SOLUTION: In Florida, when there were 447 boats registered there were 13 manatees killed that year. During a year when there were 719 boats registered there were 47 manatees killed that year

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Question 286250: In Florida, when there were 447 boats registered there were 13 manatees killed that year. During a year when there were 719 boats registered there were 47 manatees killed that year. Assuming a linear relationship between boats registered and manatees killed, find a linear equation that describes the number of manatees killed with respect to boats registered.
Found 2 solutions by richwmiller, dabanfield:
Answer by richwmiller(17219) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
use boats as x and manatees killed as y
y-y/x-x=m
y=mx+b
enjoy

Answer by dabanfield(803) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
In Florida, when there were 447 boats registered there were 13 manatees killed that year. During a year when there were 719 boats registered there were 47 manatees killed that year. Assuming a linear relationship between boats registered and manatees killed, find a linear equation that describes the number of manatees killed with respect to boats registered.
The two points (447,13) and (719,47) are on the line.
The slope of the line is (47-13)/(719-447) = 34/272 = 1/7.
The equation of the line in slope-intercept form is:
y = m*x + b where m is the slope and b is the value of y where the line crosses the y-axis.
So far we have:
y = (1/7)*x + b
To find b we know we can use the fact that when x is 447 then y = 13. Substituting these values in the equation above we have:
13 = (1/7)*447 + b
13 = 447/7 + b
b = 13 - 447/7
b = 13 - 63.18
b = -50.18
We have then y = (1/7)*x - 50.18