Notes

-a linear equation is an equation in the form
y = mx + b
where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept.
This form is generally used when graphing the line
that represents an equation.

-A linear relation can also be described as a function
when y is a function of x. So, ƒ(x) is another way to
represent y.
Linear functions have this form:
ƒ(x) = ax + b
where a can be thought of as a rate and b is a constant.

-A computer technician charges $32.50 per
hour plus a $75.00 service charge.
Your father's firm hires him to hook up his
company's Internet access. The technician
spends h hours to complete the job. How
much is the total bill?
Here's another example of applying linear
functions. Let's take a look.
This problem asks us to find the total cost. The
variable that is changing is the hours, h.
In other words, for each possible number of hours
the technician works, the total cost for his services
will change.
Let's practice with some actual values for h.
Suppose it takes the technician only 1 hour to
complete the task.
cost = $32.50 • 1 hr. + $75 service charge
= 32.50 + 75
= 107.50
It will cost your father's firm $107.50 to get
Internet access.