Question

let n be the number of oil refineries at t years since 2003. a reasonable model of the number of oil refineries is n = -3.24t + 147.62. a. what is the slope? what does it mean in this situation? b. what is the n-intercept? what does it mean in this situation? c. predict the number of refineries in 2013. a. what is the slope? m = \boxed{}

Explanation:

Step1: Recall slope-intercept form

The slope - intercept form of a linear equation is \(y = mx + b\), where \(m\) is the slope and \(b\) is the \(y\) - intercept. In the given equation \(n=-3.24t + 147.62\), we can compare it with the slope - intercept form \(y=mx + b\) (here \(y = n\) and \(x = t\)).

Step2: Identify the slope

By comparing \(n=-3.24t + 147.62\) with \(y = mx + b\), we can see that the coefficient of \(t\) (which is equivalent to \(x\) in the general form) is \(- 3.24\). So, the slope \(m=-3.24\).

Answer:

\(-3.24\)