Math Problem Statement
Kyra earns $16 per hour at her job. Is her gross pay a linear function of the number of hours she works? Explain your reasoning. Gross means before any deductions have been taken.
Yes, the amount of money that Kyra earns for every hour of work is $16, so the growth rate is constant.No, the amount of money that Kyra earns for every hour of work varies, so the growth rate is not constant.
Identify the growth rate and initial value. It is possible for the numeric value of the growth rate or the initial value to equal 0, but there would still be a unit.
Growth rate
---Select--- dollars per hour hours per dollar dollars hours
Initial value
---Select--- dollars per hour hours hours per dollar dollars
Using h for the number of hours Kyra works and P for her gross pay, find a formula for P as a linear function of h.
Solution
Yes, Kyra’s gross pay is a linear function of the number of hours she works. This is because her pay increases at a constant rate of $16 per hour. In other words, for every additional hour she works, her pay increases by $16, which defines a constant growth rate.
Growth Rate:
The growth rate is $16 per hour. This is because her pay increases by $16 for every additional hour worked.
Initial Value:
The initial value is $0, which represents her gross pay when she hasn't worked any hours yet (i.e., when ).
Formula:
To express Kyra's gross pay as a linear function of the number of hours , we can use the slope-intercept form of a linear equation:
Or simply:
Where:
- is her gross pay for working hours.
- 16 is the growth rate (dollars per hour).
- 0 is the initial value (her pay when she works 0 hours).
Would you like further details or have any questions about this explanation?
Here are some related questions for you:
- How does the equation change if Kyra's hourly rate were different, say $20 per hour?
- How can you graph this linear function on a coordinate plane?
- What is the meaning of the slope in this context?
- What if Kyra worked negative hours? What would the formula predict?
- How can we interpret the y-intercept of this linear function in practical terms?
Tip: When working with linear functions, always identify the constant rate of change (slope) and the initial condition (y-intercept). This can make it easier to write the equation.
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Linear Functions
Algebra
Rate of Change
Formulas
P(h) = 16h
Theorems
Slope-intercept form of a linear equation
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 7-9