The table of values below represents a linear function and shows the amount of money in a tip jar at a dry cleaners since the dry cleaners opened for the day. How much was in the tip jar when the dry cleaners opened?

A linear equation has a standard form of:
y = mx + b
where in this case,
y = amount of money in tip jar, m = slope, x = number of hours, b = y intercept
We select any two paired data to calculate for the slope:
m = (y2 – y1) / (x2 – x1)
m = (18.25 – 15.50) / (5 – 4)
m = 2.75
y = 2.75x + b
Choosing any one data pair to calculate for b the y-intercept:
15.50 = 2.75 (4) + b
b = 4.5
Therefore there was $4.50 in the tip jar during the opening.
Answer: $4.50
Answer:
4.50
Step-by-step explanation:
from the table, we can tell the tip increases by 2.75 per hour
the 3rd hour: 15.50-2.75=12.75
the second hour: 12.75-2.75=10.00
the 1st hour: 10.00-2.75=7.25
the 0 hour: 7.25-2.75=4.50
so there was 4.50 in the jar