Question 167777
In Florida, when there were 447 boats registered (in thousands) there were 13 manatees killed that year. During a year when there were 719 boats registered (in thousands) 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. (discuss the meaning of the slope for this problem).
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(447,13) and (719,47)
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slope: (47-13)/(719-447) = 34/272 = 0.125 = 1/8
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intercept: 13 = (1/8)447 + b
b = -42.875
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EQUATION:
# killed = (1/8)(boats in thousands) - 42.875
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Meaning of the slope.
When number of boats increases by 1000, number of manatees killed increases 
by 1/8
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Cheers,
Stan H.