Final answer:
The slope of -35 in the equation denotes that for every minute Samara drives down the mountain, her elevation decreases by 35 feet. The y-intercept of 5450 shows that her starting elevation is 5450 feet above sea level.
Step-by-step explanation:
The equation y = -35x + 5450 represents Samara's elevation (in feet) as she drives down a mountain. Here, 'y' is the elevation above sea level, and 'x' is the number of minutes since she started driving down the mountain. In this linear equation, the slope is -35, and the y-intercept is 5450.
The slope of -35 indicates the rate at which Samara's elevation decreases. Specifically, for every one minute of driving, her elevation decreases by 35 feet. The negative sign of the slope signifies a downward movement. The y-intercept of 5450 is the elevation at which Samara started her descent; in other words, when x = 0 (before she starts driving), her elevation is 5450 feet.