Answer & Step By Step Explanation:
a) The function D(x) = 72x represents the distance traveled by the driver after x hours. To find out how far the driver is from the rest stop after 3 hours, we simply substitute x = 3 into the function:

So, the driver is 216 miles away from the rest stop after 3 hours.
b) The slope of the graph of D(x) = 72x is 72. In the context of this problem, the slope represents the rate of change of the distance with respect to time. This is essentially the speed of the driver. So, the driver is traveling at a constant speed of 72 miles per hour.