How do I make a word problem using the y=mx+b formula?

Question

I'm stuck and I dont know how to make a decent word problem with the y=mx+b formula, can someone help me please? Thanks! =]

Answer 1

Billy is vacationing in the Himalayas. Billy decides to hike up a mountain that has a consistently straight incline. The altitude at the base of the mountain is 10,000 ft and the top of the mountain is 20,000 ft in altitude. The total horizontal distance from the base to top of the mountain is 12,000 ft. What's the slope of the incline of the mountain that Billy is hiking up?

Answer 2

See if this works for you ...

You take over an ice cream store. The owner sold the store because he began losing money due to an increase in the price of milk. In addition, the township began charging a monthly fee of $50 to every business owner. You decide to buy the store but you will have to pass the increased costs along to your customers in order to make a profit. The cost of milk has doubled so each cone costs you $2. Each month you pay $50 to the township. You must make $600 per month to cover your expenses. How many cones must you sell per month just to cover your expenses?

y = mx + b

where y = your monthly expenses/profits

m = cost of a cone

x = number of cones sold

b = twp tax

600 = ($2)x + $50

600 = 2x + 50

subtract 50 from both sides of your equation

600 - 50 = 2x + 50 - 50

550 = 2x

divide both sides of the equation by 2

550/2 = 2x/2

225 = x

You must sell 225 ice cream cones to meet your monthly expenses.

You could use your formula to make a graph your monthly profits (y). The # of cones (x) is an independent variable, it changes. Plot it on the x axis. Your profit (y) is a dependent variable,  it depends on the value of x. Your profit is plotted on the y axis. The cost of cones (m) is your slope and the twp tax is your (b), or y-intercept.

I hope you like ice cream!!