SOLUTION: Company A sold 14.7 million dollars of electronics equipment in 2000 and its sales have increased by 2.1 million dollars each year. Company B sold 19.4 million dollars of electric

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Question 427050: Company A sold 14.7 million dollars of electronics equipment in 2000 and its sales have increased by 2.1 million dollars each year. Company B sold 19.4 million dollars of electric equipment in 2000 and its sales have increased by 1.7 million each year.
1) Let A (t) and B (t) repesent the sales (in millions of dollars) by company A and compnay B, respectively, at t years since 2000. Find equations for A and B.
2) Predict when sales at the companies will be equal. What will that sales be?
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let S = sales for the year
Let t = the year
Plot Sales on the vertical axis and the year on the horizontal
You are given a point (2000,14.7) for company A.
I'll call it (0,14.7)
The rate of increase, or slope is +2.1+ millions/year
To get the equation:
+%28+S+-+14.7%29+%2F+%28+t+-+0+%29+=+2.1+ (in millions)
+S+-+14.7+=+2.1t+
+S+=+2.1t+%2B+14.7+
-------------------------
For company B, the point is (0,19.4),
and the slope is +1.7+ millions/year
+%28S+-+19.4%29+%2F+%28t+-+0%29+=+1.7+
+S+-+19.4+=+1.7t+
+S+=+1.7t+%2B+19.4+
------------------------
To find where the lines intersect (equal amount of sales),
Subtract B's equation from A's
+S+=+2.1t+%2B+14.7+
+-S+=+-1.7t+-+19.4+
+0+=+.4t+-+4.7+
+.4t+=+4.7+
+t=+11.75+
If the data is year-end data, then this figure means
9 months into 2012, or September 2012
Hope I got it right