Question

Personal income (in 1998 dollars) in one state increased approx linearly from $20,808 in 1998 to $22,395 in 2003. personal income (in 1998 dollars) in the other state increased approx linearly from $26,155 in 1998 to $26,508 in 2003.
a) let f(t) be personal income (in 1998 dollars) in one state and g(t) be personal income (in 1998 dollars) in the other state, both in the year that is t years since 1998.Find the equation of f and g.

Answer 1

 You're given two points for f(t) and g(t) each. Two points, (x1,y1), and (x2,y2). In this case, x1 is always x1=0, since the time t starts counting at the earliest year given. We know the form y=mx+b. m can be found a la (y2-y1)/(x2-x1), but remember x1 is 0. b can be found at f(0) or g(0), which we're already given; y1 for both cases. I'm sorry, but I'm not giving a direct answer. Knowing the method, and being careful with calculations, should be more than sufficient.it would be 22395-20808/5=317.4 f(t) 26508-26155/5= 70.6