Final answer:
The plane's altitude decreases linearly as it descends. The required equation in slope-intercept form is y = -2000x + 32000, which shows the relationship between time x and altitude y during descent. To graph it, start at 32,000 feet and plot the linear decrease of 2,000 feet per minute.
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve this problem, we first need to determine how the plane's altitude changes as time passes during its descent. Since the airplane starts at 32,000 feet and descends at a rate of 2,000 feet per minute, for every minute x that passes, the altitude y decreases by 2,000 feet. Therefore, after x minutes, the plane's altitude y will be 32,000 feet minus 2,000 times x feet.
The equation in slope-intercept form is y = -2000x + 32000. Here, -2000 represents the rate of descent (slope), and 32000 represents the starting altitude (y-intercept).
To graph the equation, plot the y-intercept (0, 32000) on the y-axis. For each minute that passes (increase in x), descend 2,000 feet on the y-axis. Connect the points to show the linear decrease in altitude over time.