Question

Define a variable and write an equation that can be used to determine on average how much the annual per-pupil spending has increased from 1986 to 2001.

Short answer

The equation that is used to find on average how much the annual per-pupil spending

has increased from 1986 to 2001 is$x=\frac{\left(\begin{array}{l}\text{annualperpupil}\\ \text{spending2001}\end{array}\right)-\left(\begin{array}{l}\text{annualperpupil}\\ \text{spending1986}\end{array}\right)}{2}$

Step-by-step solution

– Describe a variable.

To solve the word problems, it is necessary to define a variable and form an equation.

For this problem, choose a variable that gives the average annual per-pupil spending has increased from 1986 to 2001.

– Write an equation that describes the given situation.

From the graph, the annual per-pupil spending in 1986 is $3,479$and the annual per-pupil spending in 2001 is $7,489.$

Write the equation as follows:

$\begin{array}{c}\text{averageannualfrom1986to2001}=\frac{\left(\begin{array}{l}\text{annualperpupil}\\ \text{spending2001}\end{array}\right)-\left(\begin{array}{l}\text{annualperpupil}\\ \text{spending1986}\end{array}\right)}{2}\\ x=\frac{\left(\begin{array}{l}\text{annualperpupil}\\ \text{spending2001}\end{array}\right)-\left(\begin{array}{l}\text{annualperpupil}\\ \text{spending1986}\end{array}\right)}{2}\end{array}$