Question

The outside temperature can be estimated based on how fast crickets chirp. At 104 chirps per minute, the temperature is 63 degreeree F At 176 chirps per minute, the temperature is 81 degreeree F. Using this information you can make a formula that relates chirp rate to temperature. Assume the relationship is linear, that is, the points form a straight line when plotted on a graph. What is the temperature if you hear 124 chirps per minute? What is the temperature if you hear 68 chirps per minute?

Answer 1

Answer:

For 124 chirps per minute the temperature is 68 ºF.

For 68 chirps per minute the temperature is 54 ºF.

Step-by-step explanation:

Linear functions are those whose graph is a straight line. A linear function has the following form

$f(x)=b+mx$

b is the constant term or the y intercept. It is the value of the dependent variable when x = 0.

m is the coefficient of the independent variable. It is also known as the slope and gives the rate of change of the dependent variable.

We know that

• At 104 chirps per minute, the temperature is 63 ºF.

• At 176 chirps per minute, the temperature is 81 ºF.

This information can be converted to Cartesian coordinates (x, y). Where x = the number of chirps per minute and  y = the temperature in ºF.

To find a linear function that let us find the outside temperature from how fast crickets chirp we must:

• Find the slope:

$m=\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}=\frac{81-63}{176-104}=\frac{1}{4}$

• Find the equation:

$81=\frac{1}{4}\cdot 104+b$

Solving for b

$b=81-\frac{1}{4} (176)=37$

Therefore, the linear function is

$y=\frac{1}{4} \cdot x+37$

Now, using this linear function we can know the temperature when we know the chirps per minute:

For 124 chirps per minute the temperature is:

$y=\frac{1}{4} \cdot (124)+37=68$

For 68 chirps per minute the temperature is:

$y=\frac{1}{4} \cdot (68)+37=54$