Question 388569
Recall the equation of a line, y=mx+b. We will be using a similar equation, but with snow, S, and time, t instead of y and x.


The rate of inches per hour represents the slope of the graph, m.
The y-variable would be the amount of snow, S.
The x-variable would be the time, t, in hours.


The function has three pieces:


i) S = t (slope = 1)
ii) S = 2t (slope = 2)
iii) S = t (slope = 1)


For the first piece, i), t=2, so the amount of snow is 2 inches.
For the second piece, ii) t=6, so the amount of snow is 12 inches.
For the third piece, iii) t=1, so the amount of snow is 1 inch.


In total, it snowed 15 inches.


Hopefully this makes sense. The graph is just three lines. The first and third pieces are identical, while the middle piece is a bit steeper, with a slope of 2.