Final answer:
A linear function, y = 0.6x + 12, can be used to describe the number of calories burned after x minutes.
Step-by-step explanation:
To describe the number of calories burned after x minutes, we can use a linear function. The given table shows that as the number of minutes increases, the number of calories burned also increases. So, we can use the equation y = mx + b, where y represents the number of calories burned and x represents the number of minutes.
Using the given values, we can find the slope (m) and y-intercept (b). The slope can be calculated using the formula: m = (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1). Substituting the values (44.4 - 24) / (60 - 20) into the formula, we get m = 0.6. To find the y-intercept, we can substitute one of the points (20, 24) and the slope into the equation y = mx + b. Solving for b, we get b = 12.
Therefore, the function that describes the number of calories burned after x minutes is y = 0.6x + 12.