Question

The population of a city can be modeled with a linear equation, y = –80x + 3,450, where x is the number of years after 2000 and y is the city’s population. Write a description of the city’s population based on the equation.

Answer 1

The y-intercept indicates the population in the year 2000, so 3,450 people lived in the city in 2000. The negative slope indicates that the city is losing population. It loses 80 people each year.

Answer 2

At the year 2000, the city's population was 3450. Each year after that, the city's population decreased by 80 people.