The U.S. Bureau of the Census predicted that the population of Florida would be about 17.4 million in 2010 and then would increase by about 0.22 million per year until 2015. Which of the following linear models predicts the population, y, of Florida (in millions) in terms of x, the number of years since 2010.
y = mx + b
A. y = 17.4x + 0.22
B. y = -0.22x + 17.4
C. y = 0.22x + 17.4
D. y = -17.4x + 0.22
What is the meaning of the slope in context?
The correct answer is C.
The linear model that predicts the population, y, of Florida (in millions) in terms of x, the number of years since 2010 is y = 0.22x + 17.4.
The meaning of the slope in this context is that for every additional year since 2010, the population of Florida is predicted to increase by 0.22 million.