Question

The equation y = 14.3x + 17.1 estimates the amount that businesses will spend, in billions of dollars, on a certain business technology, where x is the number of years

after 2002. For what years will the spending be more than $60 billion?

Answer 1

2006 and later

First, plug in 60 for y. Then subtract 17.1 from both sides, and you get 42.9 = 14.3x, from which you divide 14.3 from both sides to isolate x. Since x = 3, the businesses will be spending less than or equal to $60 billion up to 3 years after 2002. The fourth year, which is 2006, will be greater than $60 billion