4.3: Modeling with Linear Functions

Learning Objectives

• Build linear models from verbal descriptions.
• Model a set of data with a linear function.

Emily is a college student who plans to spend a summer in Seattle. She has saved $3,500 for her trip and anticipates spending $400 each week on rent, food, and activities. How can we write a linear model to represent her situation? What would be the x-intercept, and what can she learn from it? To answer these and related questions, we can create a model using a linear function. Models such as this one can be extremely useful for analyzing relationships and making predictions based on those relationships. In this section, we will explore examples of linear function models.

Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): (credit: EEK Photography/Flickr)

Identifying Steps to Model and Solve Problems

When modeling scenarios with linear functions and solving problems involving quantities with a constant rate of change, we typically follow the same problem strategies that we would use for any type of function. Let’s briefly review them:

Identify changing quantities, and then define descriptive variables to represent those quantities. When appropriate, sketch a picture or define a coordinate system.
Carefully read the problem to identify important information. Look for information that provides values for the variables or values for parts of the functional model, such as slope and initial value.
Carefully read the problem to determine what we are trying to find, identify, solve, or interpret.
Identify a solution pathway from the provided information to what we are trying to find. Often this will involve checking and tracking units, building a table, or even finding a formula for the function being used to model the problem.
When needed, write a formula for the function.
Solve or evaluate the function using the formula.
Reflect on whether your answer is reasonable for the given situation and whether it makes sense mathematically.
Clearly convey your result using appropriate units, and answer in full sentences when necessary.

Building Linear Models

Now let’s take a look at the student in Seattle. In her situation, there are two changing quantities: time and money. The amount of money she has remaining while on vacation depends on how long she stays. We can use this information to define our variables, including units.

• Output: \(M\), money remaining, in dollars
• Input: \(t\), time, in weeks

So, the amount of money remaining depends on the number of weeks: \(M(t)\)

We can also identify the initial value and the rate of change.

• Initial Value: She saved $3,500, so $3,500 is the initial value for M.
• Rate of Change: She anticipates spending $400 each week, so –$400 per week is the rate of change, or slope.

Notice that the unit of dollars per week matches the unit of our output variable divided by our input variable. Also, because the slope is negative, the linear function is decreasing. This should make sense because she is spending money each week.

The rate of change is constant, so we can start with the linear model \(M(t)=mt+b\). Then we can substitute the intercept and slope provided.

Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\)

To find the x-intercept, we set the output to zero, and solve for the input.

\[\begin{align*} 0&=−400t+3500 \\ t&=\dfrac{3500}{400} \\ &=8.75 \end{align*}\]

The x-intercept is 8.75 weeks. Because this represents the input value when the output will be zero, we could say that Emily will have no money left after 8.75 weeks.

When modeling any real-life scenario with functions, there is typically a limited domain over which that model will be valid—almost no trend continues indefinitely. Here the domain refers to the number of weeks. In this case, it doesn’t make sense to talk about input values less than zero. A negative input value could refer to a number of weeks before she saved $3,500, but the scenario discussed poses the question once she saved $3,500 because this is when her trip and subsequent spending starts. It is also likely that this model is not valid after the x-intercept, unless Emily will use a credit card and goes into debt. The domain represents the set of input values, so the reasonable domain for this function is \(0{\leq}t{\leq}8.75\).

In the above example, we were given a written description of the situation. We followed the steps of modeling a problem to analyze the information. However, the information provided may not always be the same. Sometimes we might be provided with an intercept. Other times we might be provided with an output value. We must be careful to analyze the information we are given, and use it appropriately to build a linear model.

Using a Given Intercept to Build a Model

Some real-world problems provide the y-intercept, which is the constant or initial value. Once the y-intercept is known, the x-intercept can be calculated. Suppose, for example, that Hannah plans to pay off a no-interest loan from her parents. Her loan balance is $1,000. She plans to pay $250 per month until her balance is $0. The y-intercept is the initial amount of her debt, or $1,000. The rate of change, or slope, is -$250 per month. We can then use the slope-intercept form and the given information to develop a linear model.

\[\begin{align*} f(x)&=mx+b \\ &=-250x+1000 \end{align*}\]

Now we can set the function equal to 0, and solve for \(x\) to find the x-intercept.

\[\begin{align*} 0&=-250+1000 \\ 1000&=250x \\ 4&=x \\ x&=4 \end{align*}\]

The x-intercept is the number of months it takes her to reach a balance of $0. The x-intercept is 4 months, so it will take Hannah four months to pay off her loan.

Using a Given Input and Output to Build a Model

Many real-world applications are not as direct as the ones we just considered. Instead they require us to identify some aspect of a linear function. We might sometimes instead be asked to evaluate the linear model at a given input or set the equation of the linear model equal to a specified output.

Given a word problem that includes two pairs of input and output values, use the linear function to solve a problem.

1. Identify the input and output values.
2. Convert the data to two coordinate pairs.
3. Find the slope.
4. Write the linear model.
5. Use the model to make a prediction by evaluating the function at a given x-value.
6. Use the model to identify an x-value that results in a given y-value.
7. Answer the question posed.

Example \(\PageIndex{1}\): Using a Linear Model to Investigate a Town’s Population

A town’s population has been growing linearly. In 2004 the population was 6,200. By 2009 the population had grown to 8,100. Assume this trend continues.

1. Predict the population in 2013.
2. Identify the year in which the population will reach 15,000.

Solution

The two changing quantities are the population size and time. While we could use the actual year value as the input quantity, doing so tends to lead to very cumbersome equations because the y-intercept would correspond to the year 0, more than 2000 years ago!

To make computation a little nicer, we will define our input as the number of years since 2004:

• Input: \(t\), years since 2004
• Output: \(P(t)\), the town’s population

To predict the population in 2013 (\(t=9\)), we would first need an equation for the population. Likewise, to find when the population would reach 15,000, we would need to solve for the input that would provide an output of 15,000. To write an equation, we need the initial value and the rate of change, or slope.

To determine the rate of change, we will use the change in output per change in input.

\[m=\dfrac{\text{change in output}}{\text{change in input}}\]

The problem gives us two input-output pairs. Converting them to match our defined variables, the year 2004 would correspond to \(t=0\), giving the point \((0,6200)\). Notice that through our clever choice of variable definition, we have “given” ourselves the y-intercept of the function. The year 2009 would correspond to \(t=5\), giving the point \((5,8100)\).

The two coordinate pairs are \((0,6200)\) and \((5,8100)\). Recall that we encountered examples in which we were provided two points earlier in the chapter. We can use these values to calculate the slope.

\[\begin{align*} m&=\dfrac{8100-6200}{5-0}\\ &=\dfrac{1900}{5} \\ &=380 \text{ people per year} \end{align*}\]

We already know the y-intercept of the line, so we can immediately write the equation:

\[P(t)=380t+6200\]

To predict the population in 2013, we evaluate our function at \(t=9\).

\[\begin{align*} P(9)&=380(9)+6,200 \\ &=9,620 \end{align*}\]

If the trend continues, our model predicts a population of 9,620 in 2013.

To find when the population will reach 15,000, we can set \(P(t)=15000\) and solve for \(t\).

\[\begin{align*} 15000&=380t+6200 \\ 8800&=380t \\ t&{\approx}23.158 \end{align*}\]

Our model predicts the population will reach 15,000 in a little more than 23 years after 2004, or somewhere around the year 2027.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{1A}\)

A company sells doughnuts. They incur a fixed cost of $25,000 for rent, insurance, and other expenses. It costs $0.25 to produce each doughnut.

1. Write a linear model to represent the cost C of the company as a function of \(x\), the number of doughnuts produced.
2. Find and interpret the y-intercept.

Solution

a. \(C(x)=0.25x+25,000\) b. The y-intercept is \((0,25,000)\). If the company does not produce a single doughnut, they still incur a cost of $25,000.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{1B}\)

A city’s population has been growing linearly. In 2008, the population was 28,200. By 2012, the population was 36,800. Assume this trend continues.

1. Predict the population in 2014.
2. Identify the year in which the population will reach 54,000.

Solution

a. 41,100 b. 2020

Using a Diagram to Model a Problem

It is useful for many real-world applications to draw a picture to gain a sense of how the variables representing the input and output may be used to answer a question. To draw the picture, first consider what the problem is asking for. Then, determine the input and the output. The diagram should relate the variables. Often, geometrical shapes or figures are drawn. Distances are often traced out. If a right triangle is sketched, the Pythagorean Theorem relates the sides. If a rectangle is sketched, labeling width and height is helpful.

Example \(\PageIndex{2}\): Using a Diagram to Model Distance Walked

Anna and Emanuel start at the same intersection. Anna walks east at 4 miles per hour while Emanuel walks south at 3 miles per hour. They are communicating with a two-way radio that has a range of 2 miles. How long after they start walking will they fall out of radio contact?

Solution

In essence, we can partially answer this question by saying they will fall out of radio contact when they are 2 miles apart, which leads us to ask a new question:

“How long will it take them to be 2 miles apart?”

In this problem, our changing quantities are time and position, but ultimately we need to know how long will it take for them to be 2 miles apart. We can see that time will be our input variable, so we’ll define our input and output variables.

• Input: \(t\), time in hours.
• Output: \(A(t)\), distance in miles, and \(E(t)\), distance in miles

Because it is not obvious how to define our output variable, we’ll start by drawing a picture such as Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\)

• Initial Value: They both start at the same intersection so when \(t=0\), the distance traveled by each person should also be 0. Thus the initial value for each is 0.
• Rate of Change: Anna is walking 4 miles per hour and Emanuel is walking 3 miles per hour, which are both rates of change. The slope for \(A\) is 4 and the slope for \(E\) is 3.

Using those values, we can write formulas for the distance each person has walked.

\[A(t)=4t\]

\[E(t)=3t\]

For this problem, the distances from the starting point are important. To notate these, we can define a coordinate system, identifying the “starting point” at the intersection where they both started. Then we can use the variable, \(A\), which we introduced above, to represent Anna’s position, and define it to be a measurement from the starting point in the eastward direction. Likewise, can use the variable, \(E\), to represent Emanuel’s position, measured from the starting point in the southward direction. Note that in defining the coordinate system, we specified both the starting point of the measurement and the direction of measure.

We can then define a third variable, \(D\), to be the measurement of the distance between Anna and Emanuel. Showing the variables on the diagram is often helpful, as we can see from Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\).

Recall that we need to know how long it takes for \(D\), the distance between them, to equal 2 miles. Notice that for any given input \(t\), the outputs \(A(t)\), \(E(t)\), and \(D(t)\) represent distances.

Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\): We can use the Pythagorean Theorem because we have drawn a right angle.

Using the Pythagorean Theorem, we get:

\[\begin{align*} d(t)^2&=A(t)^2+E(t)^2 \\ &=(4t)^2+(3t)^2 \\ &=16t^2+9t^2 \\ &=25t^2 \\ D(t)&=\pm\sqrt{25t^2} &\text{Solve for $D(t)$ using the square root} \\ &= \pm 5|t| \end{align*}\]

In this scenario we are considering only positive values of \(t\), so our distance \(D(t)\) will always be positive. We can simplify this answer to \(D(t)=5t\). This means that the distance between Anna and Emanuel is also a linear function. Because D is a linear function, we can now answer the question of when the distance between them will reach 2 miles. We will set the output \(D(t)=2\) and solve for \(t\).

\[\begin{align*} D(t)&=2 \\ 5t&=2 \\ t&=\dfrac{2}{5}=0.4 \end{align*}\]

They will fall out of radio contact in 0.4 hours, or 24 minutes.

Should I draw diagrams when given information based on a geometric shape?

Yes. Sketch the figure and label the quantities and unknowns on the sketch.

Example \(\PageIndex{3}\): Using a Diagram to Model Distance between Cities

There is a straight road leading from the town of Westborough to Agritown 30 miles east and 10 miles north. Partway down this road, it junctions with a second road, perpendicular to the first, leading to the town of Eastborough. If the town of Eastborough is located 20 miles directly east of the town of Westborough, how far is the road junction from Westborough?

Solution

It might help here to draw a picture of the situation. See Figure \(\PageIndex{5}\). It would then be helpful to introduce a coordinate system. While we could place the origin anywhere, placing it at Westborough seems convenient. This puts Agritown at coordinates \((30, 10)\), and Eastborough at \((20,0)\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{5}\)

Using this point along with the origin, we can find the slope of the line from Westborough to Agritown:

\[m=\dfrac{10-0}{30-0}=\dfrac{1}{3}\]

The equation of the road from Westborough to Agritown would be

\[W(x)=\dfrac{1}{3}x\]

From this, we can determine the perpendicular road to Eastborough will have slope \(m=–3\). Because the town of Eastborough is at the point \((20, 0)\), we can find the equation:

\[\begin{align*} E(x)&=−3x+b \\ 0&=−3(20)+b &\text{Substitute in $(20, 0)$} \\ b&=60 \\ E(x)&=−3x+60 \end{align*}\]

We can now find the coordinates of the junction of the roads by finding the intersection of these lines. Setting them equal,

\[\begin{align*} \dfrac{1}{3}x&=−3x+60 \\ \dfrac{10}{3}x&=60 \\ 10x&=180 \\ x&=18 &\text{Substituting this back into $W(x)$} \\ y&=W(18) \\ &= \dfrac{1}{3}(18) \\&=6 \end{align*}\]

The roads intersect at the point \((18,6)\). Using the distance formula, we can now find the distance from Westborough to the junction.

\[\begin{align*} \text{distance}&=\sqrt{(x_2-x_1)^2+(y_2-y_1)^2} \\ &=\sqrt{(18-0)^2+(6-0)^2} \\ &\approx 18.743 \text{miles} \end{align*}\]

Analysis

One nice use of linear models is to take advantage of the fact that the graphs of these functions are lines. This means real-world applications discussing maps need linear functions to model the distances between reference points.

Exercise \(\PageIndex{2}\)

There is a straight road leading from the town of Timpson to Ashburn 60 miles east and 12 miles north. Partway down the road, it junctions with a second road, perpendicular to the first, leading to the town of Garrison. If the town of Garrison is located 22 miles directly east of the town of Timpson, how far is the road junction from Timpson?

Solution

21.15 miles

Building Systems of Linear Models

Real-world situations including two or more linear functions may be modeled with a system of linear equations. Remember, when solving a system of linear equations, we are looking for points the two lines have in common. Typically, there are three types of answers possible, as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{6}\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{6}\)

Given a situation that represents a system of linear equations, write the system of equations and identify the solution.

1. Identify the input and output of each linear model.
2. Identify the slope and y-intercept of each linear model.
3. Find the solution by setting the two linear functions equal to another and solving for \(x\),or find the point of intersection on a graph.

Example \(\PageIndex{4}\): Building a System of Linear Models to Choose a Truck Rental Company

Jamal is choosing between two truck-rental companies. The first, Keep on Trucking, Inc., charges an up-front fee of $20, then 59 cents a mile[1]. The second, Move It Your Way, charges an up-front fee of $16, then 63 cents a mile. When will Keep on Trucking, Inc. be the better choice for Jamal?

Solution

The two important quantities in this problem are the cost and the number of miles driven. Because we have two companies to consider, we will define two functions.

• Input: \(d\), distance driven in miles
• Outputs: \(K(d):\) cost, in dollars, for renting from Keep on Trucking

\(M(d):\) cost, in dollars, for renting from Move It Your Way

• Initial Value: Up-front fee: \(K(0)=20\) and \(M(0)=16\)
• Rate of Change: \(K(d)=\dfrac{$0.59}{\text{mile}}\) and \(P(d)=\dfrac{$0.63}{\text{mile}}\)

A linear function is of the form \(f(x)=mx+b\). Using the rates of change and initial charges, we can write the equations

\[K(d)=0.59d+20 \nonumber\]

\[M(d)=0.63d+16 \nonumber\]

Using these equations, we can determine when Keep on Trucking, Inc. will be the better choice. Because all we have to make that decision from is the costs, we are looking for when Keep on Trucking, Inc. will cost less, or when \(K(d)<M(d)\). The solution pathway will lead us to find the equations for the two functions, find the intersection, and then see where the \(K(d)\) function is smaller.

These graphs are sketched in Figure \(\PageIndex{7}\), with \(K(d)\) in blue.

Figure \(\PageIndex{7}\)

To find the intersection, we set the equations equal and solve:

\[\begin{align*} K(d)&=M(d) \\ 0.59d+20&=0.63d+16 \\ 4&=0.04d \\ 100&=d \\ d&=100 \end{align*}\]

This tells us that the cost from the two companies will be the same if 100 miles are driven. Either by looking at the graph, or noting that \(K(d)\) is growing at a slower rate, we can conclude that Keep on Trucking, Inc. will be the cheaper price when more than 100 miles are driven, that is \(d>100\).

Key Concepts

• We can use the same problem strategies that we would use for any type of function.
• When modeling and solving a problem, identify the variables and look for key values, including the slope and y-intercept.
• Draw a diagram, where appropriate.
• Check for reasonableness of the answer.
• Linear models may be built by identifying or calculating the slope and using the y-intercept.
• The x-intercept may be found by setting \(y=0\), which is setting the expression \(mx+b\) equal to 0.
• The point of intersection of a system of linear equations is the point where the x- and y-values are the same.
• A graph of the system may be used to identify the points where one line falls below (or above) the other line.

Footnotes

1 Rates retrieved Aug 2, 2010 from www.budgettruck.com and http://www.uhaul.com/