SOLUTION: Stuck on a word problem: After 5 months, the number of viewers of The Weekly Show on TV was 5.73 million. After 8 months, the number of viewers of the show rose to 6.27 million

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Question 191549: Stuck on a word problem:
After 5 months, the number of viewers of The Weekly Show on TV was 5.73 million. After 8 months, the number of viewers of the show rose to 6.27 million. Assume that the linear model applies.
*Write an equation expressing the number of viewers, V, after x months.
*Interpret the slope and the intercepts of the line in part a).
*Use the equation you found to predict the number of viewers of the show after 11 months

Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You are given 2 points on the line. In (x,V) format, the points are:
(5,5.73) and (8,6.27) where V is in millions of viewers.
Two points determine a line, so you have all you need.
The point-slope equation is:
%286.27+-+5.73%29+%2F+%288+-+5%29+=+%28V+-+5.73%29+%2F+%28x+-+5%29
All this equation says is that it has to hold true for any (x,y) pair
+.54+%2F+3+=+%28V+-+5.73%29+%2F+%28x+-+5%29
Multiply both sides by 3%28x+-+5%29
.54%2A%28x+-+5%29+=+3%2A%28V+-+5.73%29
.54x+-+2.7+=+3V+-+17.19
3V+=+.54x+%2B+14.49
V+=+.18x+%2B+4.83
The slope means, that each month there are 180,000 new viewers.
The V-intercept means there are 4.83 million viewers at the beginning
of the data collection period
To find the x-intercept,
0+=+.18x+%2B+4.83
.18x+=+-4.83
x+=+-26.8333
The x-intercept shows that there were no viewers 26 months and 25 days
before the time when data was collected for the graph
Here's the graph:
graph%28+500%2C+500%2C+-30%2C+13%2C+-2%2C+8%2C+.18x+%2B+4.83%29+
After 11 months,
V+=+.18%2A11+%2B+4.83
V+=+1.98+%2B+4.83
V+=+6.81
There are 6.81 million viewers after 11 months