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Algebra / Linear functions Difficulty: Easy

On January 1, 2015, a city’s minimum hourly wage was $9.25. It will increase by $0.50 on the first day of the year for the next 5 years. Which of the following functions best models the minimum hourly wage, in dollars, x years after January 1, 2015, where x equals the following five values: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ?

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Explanation

Choice C is correct. It’s given that the city’s minimum hourly wage will increase by $0.50 on the first day of the year for the 5 years after January 1, 2015. Therefore, the total increase, in dollars, in the minimum hourly wage x years after January 1, 2015, is represented by 0 point 5 0 x. Since the minimum hourly wage on January 1, 2015, was $9.25, it follows that the minimum hourly wage, in dollars, x years after January 1, 2015, is represented by 9 point 2 5, plus 0 point 5 0 x. Therefore, the function f of x equals, 9 point 2 5, plus 0 point 5 0 x best models this situation.

Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. In choice A, the function models a situation where the minimum hourly wage is $9.25 on January 1, 2015, but decreases by $0.50 on the first day of the year for the next 5 years. The functions in choices B and D both model a situation where the minimum hourly wage is increasing by $9.25 on the first day of the year for the 5 years after January 1, 2015.