SOLUTION: Ths pertains to a previous question: A scientist is studying the number of a certain type of bird in his state. He is sure that the number of birds is related to the number of gr

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Question 643537: Ths pertains to a previous question:
A scientist is studying the number of a certain type of bird in his state. He is sure that the number of birds is related to the number of green slugs found in the area which is the bird's favorite prey. After counting both slugs and birds in several areas he finds a linear relationship: Number birds = 0.0035 X (Number of slugs). What does the slope of the line equal?
So the slope is the m=0.0035. What does the y-intercept equal? Or is it unknown? Don't we substitute x=0? to solve for b? The answer choices given were 1 - number of birds, 2 - 0.0035 3-Number of slugs or 4-none of the above?

Answer by solver91311(24713)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!


Yes, 0.0035 is the slope, and yes, you find which is the -coordinate of the -intercept by substituting zero for and finding the value of that results.

Technically speaking, "None of the above" is the correct answer -- for two reasons. First is the idea that the -intercept is NOT a number; it is an ordered pair of the form . Second is the fact that answer 1 - number of birds, is only partially correct. It is the number of birds, but only when the number of slugs is zero.

On the other hand, of the three answers that provide specifics, answer 1 is the closest.

Personnally, I would choose answer 4 and make the teacher/instructor/professor prove me wrong. He/she/it wouldn't be able to do it without being very fuzzy about the underlying mathematics. A little more rigor now is going to stand you in good stead when you start to tackle mathematics that is really difficult.

John

My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it
The Out Campaign: Scarlet Letter of Atheism


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