document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=604337>Question 604337</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I need to write an equation from this series of data and I am confused. Below is my data: \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Years 	Male	Female<BR>\n" );
document.write( "0	40.656	24.137<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5	42.493	24.994<BR>\n" );
document.write( "10	43.360	26.085<BR>\n" );
document.write( "15	43.236	27.920<BR>\n" );
document.write( "20	41.391	29.643<BR>\n" );
document.write( "25	41.375	29.554<BR>\n" );
document.write( "30	43.615	32.153<BR>\n" );
document.write( "35	42.743	32.903<BR>\n" );
document.write( "36	42.261	32.515\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "PLease help in a detailed way on how to come about writing an equation for this data to solve to see when the median female earnings will meet the median male earnings.  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #381156 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=KMST><B>KMST(5328)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=KMST><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=KMST><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=381156\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Plotting the data it looks linear and it looks like median male earnings do not want to change over the years. There is a bit of scatter up and down, but no obvious trend.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Median female earning show an obvious trend, slowly inching up.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The answer to how to find the equation depends on what has been covered in your class. You may be expected to use statistics software, or a scientific calculator if you are studying statistical methods and linear regression. (You should know how you are expected to calculate the linear regression). The linear regression calculations would give you the equations of the lines.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "FOR ALGEBRA CLASS:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "If you are studying linear equations, and there has been no mention of linear regression and statistical methods, you would be expected to eyeball the trend lines. You would draw lines that seem to fit the data and figure out the equation froom the coordinates of the pints on the ends of your line. If the line you draw for the female data seems to go through 24 at 0 years and through 33 at 35 years, you would conclude that 24 is the intercept and the slope is<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%2833-24%29%2F%2835-0%29=9%2F35 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%2833-24%29%2F%2835-0%29=9%2F35\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and could write<BR>\n" );
document.write( "female meadian earnings = (9/35)*years+24<BR>\n" );
document.write( "On the other hand, the \"eyeballed\" line for male earnings could be<BR>\n" );
document.write( "male meadian earnings = 42 (with a slope of zero).<BR>\n" );
document.write( "To find when median female earnings will meet the median male earnings, you would set yp the equation<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(9/35)*years+24 = 42<BR>\n" );
document.write( "and solve for \"years\" (maybe you would use \"x\" or \"n\" for the number of years). </SPAN>\n" );
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