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Elephants are born with tusks and their tusks grow 4 inches a year. A 1 year old elephants tusk measured 5 inches. Write a linear equation that represents the situation how long will the elephants tusk be at 6 years old

User Baxx
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Answer: y = 4x + 1, 25 inches at 6 years old

Explanation:

Our y-intercept will be 1 (5 inches at a year old - 4 inches per year = 1) with a slope of 4 (4 inches a year). Our equation will look like this:

y = 4x + 1

Next, to solve for the length of the tusk at 6 years old, we will input this value of 6 and solve.

y = 4x + 1 = 4(6) + 1 = 25 inches

See attached for a graph.

We can also check our work using a different method.

6 years - 1 year = 5 years

5 years * 4 inches a year = 20 inches

20 inches + current 5 inches = 25 inches at 6 years

Elephants are born with tusks and their tusks grow 4 inches a year. A 1 year old elephants-example-1
User Sajith Herath
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