Question 44·Medium·Linear Functions
The linear function satisfies and . For what value of does ?
(Express the answer as an integer)
For problems where a linear function is defined by two function values and you’re asked for an input that produces a certain output, quickly convert the given information into two points, compute the slope using , and write the function with point-slope form to avoid unnecessary steps. Then set the function equal to the requested output and solve the simple linear equation for , checking your arithmetic with negatives to avoid slope errors.
Hints
Turn the function values into points
Think of and as points on a line: and . How can these help you find the equation of a linear function?
Find the slope first
Use the slope formula with the two points and . Be careful with the negative sign in .
Write an equation using point-slope or slope-intercept form
Once you know the slope, use point-slope form with one of the points to write as an expression in .
Use the equation to solve for x
After you have an equation for , set it equal to 9 (because ) and solve that linear equation for .
Desmos Guide
Graph the line defined by the two points
In Desmos, enter the equation in point-slope form: y + 3 = ((15 - (-3))/(8 - 2))(x - 2). This graphs the unique line passing through and .
Graph the target y-value
On a new line, type y = 9 to draw a horizontal line where the function value is 9.
Identify the needed x-value
Click on the intersection point of the two lines. The x-coordinate of this intersection is the value of that makes .
Step-by-step Explanation
Use the fact that g is linear
A linear function’s graph is a straight line. A line is completely determined by any two points on it, so the information and lets us find the equation of .
Find the slope of the line
Treat the function values as points: and . The slope is
.
So the slope of is 3.
Write an equation for g(x)
Use point-slope form with point and slope :
which simplifies to
.
Subtract 3 from both sides or distribute to get slope-intercept form:
.
Set g(x) equal to 9 and solve for x
We want . Substitute into the equation:
Add 9 to both sides:
Divide both sides by 3:
.
So when . This is the correct answer.