Question

During the spring and summer, a concession stand at a community Little League baseball game field sells soft drinks and other refreshments. To prepare for the season, the concession owner refers to the previous year's files, in which he had recorded the daily soft drinks sales (in gallons) and the average daily temperature (in degrees Fahrenheit). Using the coordinates of the two points (84,80) and (74,65), determine the slope of the line of best fit.

Answer 1

The slope of the line of best fit is 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit per gallon.

Explanation:

If a line passes through two points
`(x_1,y_1)` and
`(x_2,y_2)`, then the slope of the line is

`m=(y_2-y_1)/(x_2-x_1)`

The given two points are (84,80) and (74,65).

The slope of the line of best fit is

`m=(65-80)/(74-84)`

`m=(-15)/(-10)`

`m=1.5`

Therefore the slope of the line of best fit is 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit per gallon.

Answer 2

1.5

Explanation:

The slope is given by ...

(change in dependent variable)/(change in independent variable)

= (65 -80)/(74-84) = -15/-10 = 1.5

The slope of the line of best fit is 1.5.