SOLUTION: Show all work as you solve the linear modeling problem below. The Environmental Protection Agency lists among its "Climate Change Indicators" the increase in severity of wildf

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Question 1131780: Show all work as you solve the linear modeling problem below.
The Environmental Protection Agency lists among its "Climate Change Indicators" the increase in severity of wildfires in the U.S. over time. In 1995, the total area burned by wildfires was 2.1 million acres. In 2011, the total area burned by wildfires was 8.5 million acres. Write a linear equation in slope-intercept form that models this growth. Let x stand for the number of years after 1995 and let y stand for the total area burned by wildfires in millions of acres.

Found 2 solutions by joshuajz, josgarithmetic:
Answer by joshuajz(12) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Personally I like to create some sort of table, or quick jot notes of the useful information

In 1995: Total Area = 2.1 million acres
In 2011: Total Area = 8.5 million acres
Write a linear equation in slope y intercept form.
Remember: Slope y intercept form is (y)=(mx+b)
We can turn our data into the following points:
(1995, 2100000) and (2011, 8500000)
First we want to calculate the slope using: %28y%5B2%5D-y%5B1%5D%29%2F%28x%5B2%5D-x%5B1%5D%29
%288500000-2100000%29%2F%282011-1995%29
Therefore: The slope(m) = %286400000%29%2F%2816%29 = 400000
Now that we have the slope, we can take one of the points, I'll use (1995, 2,100,000) and plug it into our equation y=mx%2Bb
2100000=400000%2A1995%2Bb
2100000%29=798000000%2Bb
2100000-798000000%29=b
b=-795900000
Now we can write our final equation:
highlight%28y=400000x-795900000%29

Answer by josgarithmetic(39621) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Points (x,y);
x, years since 1995
y, area burned, in MILLIONS OF ACRES
-
(0, 2.1) and (16, 8.5)

y=mx%2Bb
-
m=%288.5-2.1%29%2F16=0.4
-

b=y-mx
b=8.5-0.4%2A16
b=2.1

highlight%28y=0.4x%2B2.1%29