Average hourly earnings of production workers at Nussbaum Steel from 1996 through 2002 are approximated by the equation y= 0.494x- 974.5, where x represents the year and y represents the hourly earnings.
What are the approximate average hourly earnings in 1996 ?
(rounded to the nearest cent.)

Question

Average hourly earnings of production workers at Nussbaum Steel from 1996 through 2002 are approximated by the equation y= 0.494x- 974.5, where x represents the year and y represents the hourly earnings. 
 What are the approximate average hourly earnings in 1996 ? 
(rounded to the nearest cent.)

anonymous · Answer

Solve y at 1996 and solve y at 2002.

Than do this to find the average rate of change.
$$\frac{ y(2002) -y(1996) }{ 2002 -1996 }$$

anonymous · Answer

huh

anonymous · Answer

evaluate y at 2002 meaning substitute x as 2002 and solve for y. Do the same for 1996.

anonymous · Answer

Alright so what you do is this.

y(2002) = 0.494x -974.5 = 0.494(2002) -(974.5) = $ 14.4
y(1996) = 0.494(1996) -974.5 = $ 11.524 hours

And 2002 -1996 = 6 hours

so the approximate average hourly earnings = (14.4 - 11.524)/6 = $ 0.47933/ hours

Rounded to the nearest cent would be 0.48 cents.

anonymous · Answer

thx