Now that you know how to solve a linear equation, we can use that skill to construct linear equations. The process of using information to create an equation is called modeling. The equation you create that corresponds to some information is called a mathematical model. In this section, ee will do this by calculating the slope and intercept of a line that has the form
y = m x + b
Initially, you will be given the slope and intercept. Then we will use a pair of points to find the value of the slope m and the intercept b.
Our goal is to be able to
model an application with a linear equation using a point and slope.
models an application with a linear equation using two points.
Use the resources below to help you reach these goals.
Suppose you are offered a job with a starting salary of $35,000 and annual raises of $2700. This seems like a pretty straightforward offer. The first year you make $35,000, the second year you make $2700 more, and the third year you make $2700 more, and so on. With a little effort, you could make up a table like the one below.
Year
Salary
First
$35,000
Second
$37,700
Third
$40,400
Fourth
$43,100
This might suffice if you are short term worker only interest in the immediate few years. But if you are thinking long-term, you might be interested in determining how long it would be before you made $100,000 or even more?
This salary is an example of linear growth. In this section and the next, we will learn how to use equation to predict how a quantity like salary grows linearly. In particular, you will learn how to
solve linear equations,
and use intercepts to graph linear equations.
These skills will help us to visualize and apply linear growth.
Use the workbook and videos below to help you achieve these objectives.
The metric system is used throughout the world to measure length, volume, mass, and time. Units like the English system are used in the United States and the United Kingdom, but in professions like nursing the metric system (SI units) is used exclusively.
In SI units there are several base units that are used to measure various quantities.
Symbol
Name
Quantity
s
second
time
m
meter
length
kg
kilogram
mass
A
ampere
electrical current
K
kelvin
temperature
mol
mole
amount of substance
cd
candela
luminous intensity
Our objectives for this section are to
use the basic units of measurement in the metric system,
make conversions between metric measurements.
Use the resources below to help you accomplish these objectives.
