2.

5 LINEAR FUNCTIONS AND MODELS

A linear function is written in the form f (x)  mx  b .

Ex) Sketch the graph of the function f (x)  2x  5

a) What is the slope of f (x)?

b) What is the average rate of

change in f (x) between any
two values of x ?

For linear functions, the rate of change is equal to the slope.

Ex) Construct the linear function g(x) which has a y-intercept at 7
3
and a rate of change of  .
4

Ex) A large cylindrical water tank initially holds 120 gal. of water.
At time t = 0, a valve is turned on and begins filling the tank at a
rate of 40 gal/min.

a) Find a linear function V which models the volume of water

in the tank at any time t after the valve is turned on.

b) If the tank has a capacity of 2000 gallons, how long will it

take to fill the tank after the valve is turned on?
Ex) A company purchases a high volume printer/copier/scanner
for $24,000. After 10 years, the equipment will have to be
replaced. Its value at that time is expected to be $2000.
Construct a linear function which expresses the value P of the
equipment during the 10 years of its use.