SOLUTION: Hi, the question i have is that a computer is purchased at end of 1999 for $3000. Scrap value of the computer in 2001 is expected to be $500. Find a linear function that describe

Question 55055: Hi, the question i have is that a computer is purchased at end of 1999 for $3000. Scrap value of the computer in 2001 is expected to be $500. Find a linear function that describes the value of the computer, if t is the age of the computer in years.
I wouldn't know where to start!! thanks.
Answer by Hook(36) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The problem asks you to find a linear funtion: let's call it .
We know its a line, so it can be of the form (That's slope-intercept form there).
What do we know?
We're calling the age of the computer. In '99, we're at and the computer is worth $3000; in '01 , the computer is worth $500.
Ok, so we have these two points:
(0,3000)
(2,500)
Let's plug the first point into that slope-intercept form of our line:

The m term drops away and we're simply left with

Great. Now lets plug the second point into our equation (we know b now as well)
}
If we subtract 3000 from both sides, we get

and divide by 2

Throw it all together, we get
We can eve graph it:

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