Algebra and Trigonometry, 5th Edition

1.3 Linear Functions, Slope, and Applications

• Determine the slope of a line given two points on the line.

• Solve applied problems involving slope, or average rate of change.

• Find the slope and the y-intercept of a line given the equation $y=mx+b$, or $f(x)=mx+b$.

• Graph a linear equation using the slope and the y-intercept.

• Solve applied problems involving linear functions.

In real-life situations, we often need to make decisions on the basis of limited information. When the given information is used to formulate an equation or an inequality that at least approximates the situation mathematically, we have created a model. One of the most frequently used mathematical models is linear. The graph of a linear model is a straight line.

Linear Functions ...