document.write( "Question 198059: 3. Take a look at the table below and write out an equation for f(x).
\n" ); document.write( "x -2 -1 0 1 2
\n" ); document.write( "f(x) -2 2 6 10 14\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "each of these items (x, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2) are suppose to be in a block in the first row of the table and (f(x) , -2, 2, 6, 10, 14 are on the next row of the table. The table just didn't copy over when I cut and pasted. \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I am so lost in this algebra class, I don't even know where to begin with this, little alone find an answer. Please answer. Thank you
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Algebra.Com's Answer #148529 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Notice how when x increases by 1, f(x) increases by 4 (eg as x goes from 0 to 1, f(x) goes from 6 to 10)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Since this increase is the same for any x value, this means that f(x) is a linear function.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So to find the equation, all we need are two points.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So let's find the equation through the points (0,6) and (1,10)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "First let's find the slope of the line through the points and \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Note: is the first point and is the second point .\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"m=%28y%5B2%5D-y%5B1%5D%29%2F%28x%5B2%5D-x%5B1%5D%29\" Start with the slope formula.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"m=%2810-6%29%2F%281-0%29\" Plug in \"y%5B2%5D=10\", \"y%5B1%5D=6\", \"x%5B2%5D=1\", and \"x%5B1%5D=0\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"m=%284%29%2F%281-0%29\" Subtract \"6\" from \"10\" to get \"4\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"m=%284%29%2F%281%29\" Subtract \"0\" from \"1\" to get \"1\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"m=4\" Reduce\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So the slope of the line that goes through the points and is \"m=4\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now let's use the point slope formula:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y-y%5B1%5D=m%28x-x%5B1%5D%29\" Start with the point slope formula\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y-6=4%28x-0%29\" Plug in \"m=4\", \"x%5B1%5D=0\", and \"y%5B1%5D=6\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y-6=4x%2B4%28-0%29\" Distribute\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y-6=4x%2B0\" Multiply\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y=4x%2B0%2B6\" Add 6 to both sides. \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y=4x%2B6\" Combine like terms. \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So the equation that goes through the points and is \"y=4x%2B6\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "This means that the function is \"f%28x%29=4x%2B6\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now if we pick a random x value that we haven't used yet, say x=2, and plug it in, we get:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"f%282%29+=+4%282%29%2B6=8%2B6=14\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So when \"x=2\", \"f%28x%29=14\" which supports our answer (try other x values to confirm).
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