document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=290257>Question 290257</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Can use some help with a word problem. This is what it is:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "A biologist recorded 2 snakes on 9 acres in one area and 9 snakes on 12 acres in another are. Let s be the number of snake and a be the number of acres. Find a linear equation that you could use to calculate for any number of acres. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "I tried to put the numbers in the formula of y=mx+b (2,9)and (9,12).<BR>\n" );
document.write( "I solved for m and got -3/7, but I know I am doing something wrong because we have choices as:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a)s=7a  b)3s=-2a+9   c)3s-7a-57  d)3s-7a<BR>\n" );
document.write( "I do not know what I am doing wrong because my final answer was y=6/7+b.<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #210035 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=richwmiller><B>richwmiller(17219)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=richwmiller><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=richwmiller><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=210035\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> First you have the x and y backwards.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x (a) is acres and y (s) is snakes<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(9,2) and (12, 9)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "so s=ma+b<BR>\n" );
document.write( "But first we have to find the slope<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(y-y)/(x-x)=m<BR>\n" );
document.write( "or in this case <BR>\n" );
document.write( "(s-s)/(a-a)=m<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(9-2)/(12-9)=7/3=m<BR>\n" );
document.write( "7/3=m<BR>\n" );
document.write( "s=(7/3)*a+b<BR>\n" );
document.write( "now plug in either point<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2=(7/3)*9+b<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2=63/3+b<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2=21+b<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-19=b<BR>\n" );
document.write( "s=7a/3-19<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3s=7a-57<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The closest answer is c<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3s-7a-57<BR>\n" );
document.write( "I think you copied - for =<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Double check your answer options<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Perhaps you copied them wrong.<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );