Question

The table above shows two pairs of values for the linear function f. The function can be written in the form
, where a and b are constants. What is the value of a + b ?
Hint:
Hint:
To find the value of a + b, first we find the value of a and b . We are given an equation
and the value of x and
at wo points. We use these two points to find two equations in variables a and b , and find their values. The pair
satisfies the equation
, which means, the equation is true when we put the values of x and
in the equation.
The correct answer is: 3.25
Given,
when x = 8 , we have 
when x = 12, we have 
We use these values in the equation 
Firstly, we have

Writing the above equation in standard form,

Secondly,

Writing the above equation in standard form, we have

Thus we get two linear equations in two variables;


Now, we solve these equations to get the values of and .
Subtracting the first equation from the second, we get

Simplifying the above equation, we get



Putting the value of a in the first equation, we get

Simplifying, we get


b = 2
Thus, we get

Hence,

Thus, the value of a + b is 3.25
Note:
We can take a different approach to solving the linear equations. The above method is called method of elimination. We may also use the method of substitution; which is finding the values one variable, say a , in terms of b , from the first equation and replacing this value in the second equation to get a linear equation in one variable , b . Then solve it to find b, and use it in the previous equation to find a.
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It is advised to memorize the values of powers of i , that is ,
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