We start with the initial value of this function, y(0), which is 4 salads. To this quantity we add 3 salads per hour of work, using x to represent the number of hours. In summary, we have:
y(x) = 4 salads + (3 salads/hour)x
Example: after 2 hours the number of salads made is 4 salads plus (3 salads/hour)(2 hours). or y(2) = 4 salads + 6 salads = 10 salads.
(y) equals the total salads made. In order to figure this out, you would have to add the 4 salads already made plus the 3 salads being made each hour for however many hours they are making them. Since we don’t know how many hours they are making them, we use (x).
