Welcome to Westonci.ca, the place where your questions find answers from a community of knowledgeable experts. Our Q&A platform provides quick and trustworthy answers to your questions from experienced professionals in different areas of expertise. Experience the convenience of finding accurate answers to your questions from knowledgeable experts on our platform.

The function below models the correlation between the number of hours a plant is kept in sunlight (x) and the height (y) in mm to which it grows:

[tex]\[ y = 4 + 2x \][/tex]

What does the slope of this function represent?

A. The original height of the plant was 4 mm.
B. The original height of the plant was 2 mm.
C. The height of the plant increases by 2 mm for every hour of sunlight it receives.
D. The height of the plant increases by 4 mm for every hour of sunlight it receives.


Sagot :

Let's analyze the given function step-by-step:

### Given Function:
The function provided to model the relationship between the number of hours a plant is kept in sunlight [tex]\((x)\)[/tex] and the height [tex]\((y)\)[/tex] in millimeters is:
[tex]\[ y = 4 + 2x \][/tex]

### Form of the Function:
This function is in the linear form:
[tex]\[ y = mx + c \][/tex]
where:
- [tex]\( m \)[/tex] is the slope of the line.
- [tex]\( c \)[/tex] is the y-intercept (the value of [tex]\( y \)[/tex] when [tex]\( x \)[/tex] is 0).

### Components from the Given Function:
1. y-Intercept ([tex]\( c \)[/tex]): From the given function [tex]\( y = 4 + 2x \)[/tex], we identify that [tex]\( c = 4 \)[/tex]. This means that when the plant is not exposed to any sunlight ([tex]\( x = 0 \)[/tex]), the height of the plant is [tex]\( 4 \)[/tex] mm. Thus, the original height of the plant is [tex]\( 4 \)[/tex] mm.

2. Slope ([tex]\( m \)[/tex]): From the function, we see that the coefficient of [tex]\( x \)[/tex] is [tex]\( 2 \)[/tex]. This coefficient represents the slope [tex]\( m \)[/tex]. The slope indicates how much [tex]\( y \)[/tex] changes for a unit change in [tex]\( x \)[/tex]. Specifically, it tells us the rate of change of the plant's height with respect to the amount of sunlight received.

### Interpretation of the Slope:
- The slope ([tex]\( m = 2 \)[/tex]) means that for every additional hour of sunlight ([tex]\( x \)[/tex]), the plant's height ([tex]\( y \)[/tex]) increases by [tex]\( 2 \)[/tex] mm.
- In simpler terms, the plant's height increases by [tex]\( 2 \)[/tex] mm for every hour of sunlight it receives.

### Correct Interpretation:
Based on the given options and our analysis:
1. "The original height of the plant was [tex]\( 4 \)[/tex] mm." This is correct, but it does not address the slope.
2. "The original height of the plant was [tex]\( 2 \)[/tex] mm." This is incorrect.
3. "The height of the plant increases by [tex]\( 2 \)[/tex] mm for every hour of sunlight it receives." This accurately reflects the meaning of the slope.
4. "The height of the plant increases by [tex]\( 4 \)[/tex] mm for every hour of sunlight it receives." This is incorrect.

### Conclusion:
The slope of the function [tex]\( y = 4 + 2x \)[/tex] represents that "The height of the plant increases by [tex]\( 2 \)[/tex] mm for every hour of sunlight it receives."

Thus, the correct option is:

The height of the plant increases by [tex]\( 2 \)[/tex] mm for every hour of sunlight it receives.