Answer :
The linear function that models the situation is given by:
[tex]y = 45 - 0.178x[/tex]
The format of a linear function is:
[tex]y = mx + b[/tex]
In which:
- m is the slope, which is the rate of change.
- b is the y-intercept, which is the initial value.
- If nobody ran, 45 cigarettes would be smoked, thus the initial value is of [tex]b = 45[/tex].
- For each additional person that exercises, the amount decays by 0.178, thus the slope is [tex]m = 0.178[/tex].
The equation that models this situation is:
[tex]y = 45 - 0.178x[/tex]
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