QuestionThe minimum hourly wage, (in dollars per hour), in a country can be approximated by the equation . In this equation, represents the number of years since 1970 ( represents 1970, represents 1975, and so on).
Federal Minimum Hourly Wage by Year
Part 1 of 4
(a) Use the equation to approximate the minimum wage in the year 1975.
The minimum wage in 1975 was approximately .
Part 2 of 4
(b) Use the equation to estimate the minimum wage in the year 1995.
The minimum wage in 1995 was approximately .
Part:
Part 3 of 4
(c) Determine the -intercept. Interpret the meaning of the -intercept in the context of this problem.
The -intercept is . In the year the minimum wage was approximately per hour.
Studdy Solution
STEP 1
1. The equation for the minimum hourly wage is given by .
2. represents the number of years since 1970.
3. We need to find the minimum wage for specific years and interpret the -intercept.
STEP 2
1. Calculate the minimum wage for the year 1975.
2. Calculate the minimum wage for the year 1995.
3. Determine and interpret the -intercept.
STEP 3
Calculate the minimum wage for the year 1975.
Since for the year 1975, substitute into the equation:
Calculate:
The minimum wage in 1975 was approximately .
STEP 4
Calculate the minimum wage for the year 1995.
Since for the year 1995, substitute into the equation:
Calculate:
The minimum wage in 1995 was approximately .
STEP 5
Determine and interpret the -intercept.
The -intercept occurs when .
Substitute into the equation:
The -intercept is .
Interpretation: In the year 1970, the minimum wage was approximately per hour.
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