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Algebra / Linear functions Difficulty: Medium

The function f is defined by f of x equals, m x plus b, where m and b are constants. If f of 0 equals 18 and f of 1 equals 20, what is the value of m ?

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Explanation

The correct answer is 2. The slope-intercept form of an equation for a line is y equals, m x plus b, where m is the slope and b is the y-coordinate of the y-intercept. Two ordered pairs, x sub 1 comma y sub 1 and x sub 2 comma y sub 2, can be used to compute the slope using the formula m equals, the fraction with numerator y sub 2, minus y sub 1, and denominator x sub 2, minus x sub 1, end fraction. It’s given that f of 0 equals 18 and f of 1 equals 20 ; therefore, the two ordered pairs for this line are 0 comma 18 and 1 comma 20. Substituting these values for x sub 1 comma y sub 1 and x sub 2 comma y sub 2 gives the fraction with numerator 20 minus 18, and denominator 1 minus 0, end fraction, equals, the fraction 2 over 1, or 2.