document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1119738>Question 1119738</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Mary's Towel Company recorded the following data on the number of towels sold (x) and the company's total profit (y). \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Number of towels sold 2 ,  3 ,   4 , 5  ,   6 ,   7 ,  8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Total profit.        $7 , $16 , $27, $40 , $55 , $72 , $91\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "If the company creates a scatter plot of the data, what will be the equation of the curve of best fit?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "A.f(x)= x^2+4x-5\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "B.f(x)= x^2+5x-4\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "C.f(x)= 2x^2-4x-5\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "D.f(x)= 2x^2-5x-4\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #735524 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=rapture1965><B>rapture1965(18)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-06.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=rapture1965><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=rapture1965><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=735524\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Let us look at the first two values 2 and 7.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Let x = 2.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "If I plug 2 in for x in the first equation, will I get 7 for f(x) noting that \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "f(x) is the same as y?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Well, let us see what happens.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "f(x) = x^2 + 4x - 5\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Replace every x you see with 2.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "f(2) = (2)^2 + 4(2) - 5\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "f(2) = 4 + 8 - 5\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "f(2) = 12 - 5 \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "f(2) = 7\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So far so good. We just learned that when x is 2, y is 7. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Let us try the next x-value, which is 3.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "If I let x = 3 and get 16, we can stop right there. There will be no need\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "to try the other equations on the list.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Replace every x you see with 3.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "f(3) = (3)^2 + 4(3) - 5\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "f(3) = 9 + 12 - 5\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "f(3) = 21 - 5\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "f(3) = 16\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "What can we conclude?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The only equation from the ones listed that yields 7 and 16 after plugging 2 and \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3 respectively is choice A.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Answer: Choice A\r<BR>\n" );
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