Need some help here..

[JakDG]

Here is my graph. I need to draw a line of best fit in for the data above.

Then with that line I have to Estimate the y-intercept of my line, then I have to find what the Y-intercept means. After that I have to estimate the slope of my line that best fit. After that I have to put it into slope intercept form. And lastly I have to use that equation to find the fuel economy of a 3 liter engine.
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Any help would be great!

Here is what I have so far.

[/FONT]a) Estimate the y-intercept of your line.

a) 30 miles per gallon

b) What does the y-intercept represent in this problem?

b) Miles per gallon

 

[wjm11]

I need to draw a line of best fit in for the data above.

What methods for finding a "best fit" line have you been taught. Many calculators can do a "least squares" regression analysis on the data to come up with a line. Your data looks as if it might be better fit by a curve, something like y = k/x + b; however, I don't think that's what you are looking for in "Beginning Algebra."

Are you just supposed to lay a straight edge on the graph and make your own best guess? That should suffice for now, I would think.

b) What does the y-intercept represent in this problem?

The y axis is "miles per gallon" -- not the y intercept. The intercept is a single point.

The y intercept is where x equals zero. In this case, that would be where the engine size is zero. So that would mean that an engine size of zero is expected to get 30 mpg; obviously that makes no sense.

Hope that helps.