document.write( "Question 86094: The graph shows data collected by measuring the height, h, in
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Algebra.Com's Answer #62207 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Note: I'm going to use x instead of t, and use y instead of h\r
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Solved by pluggable solver: Finding the Equation of a Line
First lets find the slope through the points (\"0\",\"10\") and (\"20\",\"0\")
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\n" ); document.write( " \"m=%28y%5B2%5D-y%5B1%5D%29%2F%28x%5B2%5D-x%5B1%5D%29\" Start with the slope formula (note: (\"x%5B1%5D\",\"y%5B1%5D\") is the first point (\"0\",\"10\") and (\"x%5B2%5D\",\"y%5B2%5D\") is the second point (\"20\",\"0\"))
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\n" ); document.write( " \"m=%280-10%29%2F%2820-0%29\" Plug in \"y%5B2%5D=0\",\"y%5B1%5D=10\",\"x%5B2%5D=20\",\"x%5B1%5D=0\" (these are the coordinates of given points)
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\n" ); document.write( " \"m=+-10%2F20\" Subtract the terms in the numerator \"0-10\" to get \"-10\". Subtract the terms in the denominator \"20-0\" to get \"20\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"m=-1%2F2\" Reduce
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\n" ); document.write( " So the slope is
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\n" ); document.write( "Now let's use the point-slope formula to find the equation of the line:
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\n" ); document.write( " ------Point-Slope Formula------
\n" ); document.write( " \"y-y%5B1%5D=m%28x-x%5B1%5D%29\" where \"m\" is the slope, and (\"x%5B1%5D\",\"y%5B1%5D\") is one of the given points
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\n" ); document.write( " So lets use the Point-Slope Formula to find the equation of the line
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\n" ); document.write( " \"y-10=%28-1%2F2%29%28x-0%29\" Plug in \"m=-1%2F2\", \"x%5B1%5D=0\", and \"y%5B1%5D=10\" (these values are given)
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\n" ); document.write( " \"y-10=%28-1%2F2%29x%2B%28-1%2F2%29%280%29\" Distribute \"-1%2F2\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"y-10=%28-1%2F2%29x%2B0\" Multiply \"-1%2F2\" and \"0\" to get \"0%2F2\". Now reduce \"0%2F2\" to get \"0\"
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\n" ); document.write( " \"y=%28-1%2F2%29x%2B0%2B10\" Add \"10\" to both sides to isolate y
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\n" ); document.write( " \"y=%28-1%2F2%29x%2B10\" Combine like terms \"0\" and \"10\" to get \"10\"
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\n" ); document.write( " Answer:
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\n" ); document.write( " So the equation of the line which goes through the points (\"0\",\"10\") and (\"20\",\"0\") is:\"y=%28-1%2F2%29x%2B10\"
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\n" ); document.write( " The equation is now in \"y=mx%2Bb\" form (which is slope-intercept form) where the slope is \"m=-1%2F2\" and the y-intercept is \"b=10\"
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\n" ); document.write( " Notice if we graph the equation \"y=%28-1%2F2%29x%2B10\" and plot the points (\"0\",\"10\") and (\"20\",\"0\"), we get this: (note: if you need help with graphing, check out this solver)
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\n" ); document.write( " Graph of \"y=%28-1%2F2%29x%2B10\" through the points (\"0\",\"10\") and (\"20\",\"0\")
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\n" ); document.write( " Notice how the two points lie on the line. This graphically verifies our answer.
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So the equation is \"y=%28-1%2F2%29x%2B10\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "which is equivalent to\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"h=%28-1%2F2%29t%2B10\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So the answer is B)
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