BUS202: Business Mathematics

Dr. Md. Shahnewaz Bhuiyan

Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering
Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology

Linear Function

BUS202: Business Mathematics 1

 Lesson objectives
Learning objective:
The main aim of this lesson is to introduce the basic concept of a linear equation
in two variables. You will learn how to formulate linear equations in two variable.

Learning outcomes:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
• Identify the slope formula, parallel and perpendicular lines
• Determine the slope of parallel and perpendicular lines
• Interpret the meaning of slope, x-intercept, and y-intercept from a given
equation

References
• Earl Bowen, Pritchett/Saber, Mathematics with application in Management and
Economics (seventh edition), IRWIN
• S. M. Shahidul Islam, Business Mathematics, Abir Publications

BUS202: Business Mathematics 1

 Linear function
• In everyday language, the word function expresses the notion of
dependence.
After the increase in the price of diesel, the
transport fare has increased by 30% to 40%.
There are four major sources of spending
for the common man's domestic life:
• Purchase of food and household
. items,
• Rent and service bills,
• Education of children, and
• transportation

• An increase in oil prices also increases domestic freight costs and will
eventually lead to higher prices of essentials across the country.

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 Linear function
• In mathematics, the meaning of the word function is more precise, but the
basic idea is the same.

• A rule that establishes a relationship between two quantities.

• If the value of the first quantity determines exactly one value of the second
quantity, we say the second quantity is a function of the first quantity.

• A function can be described using words, data in a table, points on a graph,

or a formula.

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 Linear Notation

The name of the function

“Input” of the function

𝒚 = 𝒇(𝒙)
“Output” of the function

𝑦 (output) is the dependent variable

𝑥 (input) is the independent variable

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 Example problem-4.1
The number of gallons of paint needed to paint a house depends on the size of
the house. A gallon of paint typically covers 250 square feet. Thus, the number
of gallons of paint, 𝑁, is a function of the area to be painted 𝐴 ft2. We write:
𝑁 = 𝑓(𝐴)
(i) Find a formula for 𝑓
(ii) Explain in words what the statement 𝑓(1000) = 40 tells us about painting
houses.

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 Example problem-4.2
Write the relationship using function notation (that is 𝑦 is a function of 𝑥 is
written 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥))
(i) The number of molecules, 𝑚, in a gas, is a function of the volume of the
gas, 𝑣
(ii) Weight, 𝑤, is a function of calorific intake, 𝑐

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Slope of a line

Which one is more steeper??

How did you confirm this??

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 Slope of a line

𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒
𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 (𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛) =
𝑟𝑢𝑛

• The rate of change(gradient or slope) is a ratio that describes, on average,

how much one quantity changes with respect to a change in another
quantity.
• It is represented by the letter 𝑚.
• If 𝑥 is the independent variable and 𝑦 is the dependent variable, then
𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑦
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 = =
𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑥
• For linear function, it has a constant rate of change
• The graph of any linear function is straight line

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 Slope of a line

𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒
𝑆𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 (𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛) =
𝑟𝑢𝑛

• The rate of change(gradient or slope) is a ratio that describes, on average,

how much one quantity changes with respect to a change in another
quantity.

• It is represented by the letter 𝑚.

• If 𝑥 is the independent variable and 𝑦 is the dependent variable, then

𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑦
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 =
𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑥

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 Example problem: 4.3
The graph shows the number of people who visited U.S. theme parks in recent
years.
(i) Find the rates of change for
2000-2002 and 2002-2004
(ii) Explain the meaning of the
rate of change in each case.
(iii) How are the difference rates
of change shown on the
graph

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 Slope of a Line

Slope of non-vertical line

Find the slope of the line passing through the points (4,-2), and (-1, 2)

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 Example problem-4.4

The graph shows how much water is in a reservoir at different times. Find the
slope of the line. Then tell what the slope represents.

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 Example problem-4.5

The graph shows the height of a plant over a period of days. Find the slope of
the line. Then tell what the slope represents.

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 Formula for Linear function

• Economists and accountants use linear functions for

straight-line depreciation.

• For tax purposes, the value of certain equipment is considered

to decrease or depreciate over time.

• For example, computer equipment is outdated after several

years. Straight-line depreciation assumes that the rate of
change of value concerning time is constant.

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 Formula for Linear function

A small business spends $20,000 on new computer equipment and for tax
purposes, chooses to depreciate it to $0 at a constant rate over a five-year
period.

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆 −𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎

Rate of change of values= = = −𝟒𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓
𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝟓

20
t, year V, value
0 20000 16

1 16000 12
Value
2 12000 8

3 8000
4
4 4000
0
5 0 0 1 2 3 4 5
Time

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 Formula for Linear function

Total Cost=Initial value + Change per year  Number of years

2000 -4000 t

Output=Initial value + Rate of Change  Input

𝑦-coordinate (dependent variable) 𝑥-coordinate (independent variable)

Also known as Slope-intercept formula

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 Example problem: 4.6
• To rent a van, a moving company charges $30.00 plus $0.050 per mile.
Write the equation that represents the cost as a function of the number of
miles.

• Helen is in a bicycle race. She has already biked 10 miles and is now
biking at a rate of 18 miles per hour.
i. Write the equation that represents the distance Helen has biked as a
function of time.
ii. Identify the slope and y-intercept and describe their meanings
iii. How far will Helen have biked after 2 hours?

• Pauline’s Health Club has an enrollment fee of $175 and costs $35 per
month. Write the equation that represents the total cost as a function of
months. Find the cost of one year of membership.

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 Example problem: 4.7
Two students wrote 3𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 5 in slope-intercept form. Who is incorrect?
Describe the error

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Equation of a Horizontal Line

• The equation 𝑦 = 4
represents a linear function
with slope 𝑚 = 0. 𝑦 = 4 +
0 × 𝑥.
• The value of 𝑦 (output) is 4,
no matter what the value of
𝑥 (input) is.

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 Equation of a Vertical Line

• 𝑥 = 4 means that x is 4 no
matter what the value of y is.
• What is the slope??
∆𝑦 3−1 2
• 𝑚= = =
∆𝑥 4−4 0
• The slope is undefined
because the denominator is
0. The slope of any vertical
line is undefined.

For any constant 𝑏:

• The graph of the equation 𝑦 = 𝑏 is a horizontal line and its
slope is zero
• The graph of the equation 𝑥 = 𝑏 is a vertical line and its slope
is undefined.
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 Parallel Lines
Two straight lines are said to be parallel if their slopes are equal. For
examples:
(i) Two straight lines 𝑦 = 𝑚1 𝑥 + 𝑐 and 𝑦 = 𝑚2 𝑥 + 𝑐 are parallel if 𝑚1 = 𝑚2
(ii) The lines 𝑦 = 5𝑥 + 7 and 𝑦 = 5𝑥 + 12 are parallel.

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 Perpendicular Lines
Two straight lines are said to be perpendicular if the product of their slopes is
equal to -1. For examples:
(i) Two straight lines 𝑦 = 𝑚1 𝑥 + 𝑐 and 𝑦 = 𝑚2 𝑥 + 𝑐 are perpendicular if
𝑚1 × 𝑚2 = −1.
(ii) The lines 𝑦 = 5𝑥 + 7 and 𝑦 = − 15 𝑥 + 12 are perpendicular.
(iii) The lines 𝑦 = − 13 𝑥 + 6 and 𝑦 = 3𝑥 + 8 are perpendicular.

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 Example problem-4.8
Two points are given from each of two lines: 𝐿1 and 𝐿2 . Determine if the lines
are parallel, perpendicular, or neither.
𝐿1 : (2,-3) and (4,1)
𝐿2 : (5,-6) and (-3, -2)

For line 𝐿1
𝑉𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 (𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒) 𝑦2 − 𝑦1 1 − (−3) 4
𝑚1 = = = = =2
𝐻𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 (𝑟𝑢𝑛) 𝑥2 − 𝑥1 4−2 2
For line 𝐿2
𝑉𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 (𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒) 𝑦2 − 𝑦1 −2 − (−6) 4 1
𝑚2 = = = =− =−
𝐻𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 (𝑟𝑢𝑛) 𝑥2 − 𝑥1 −3 − 5 8 2
1
Now 𝑚1 × 𝑚2 = 2 × − = −1
2
Lines are perpendicular

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 Example problem: 4.9

(a) Find the equation of the line through (2, 7) parallel to the line
𝑦 = 1.5𝑥 − 3.5

(b) Find the equation of the line through(-2,-6) perpendicular to

1 4
the line 𝑦 = 𝑥 +
3 3

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 Example problem-4.10

(a) Find the equation of the line through the origin parallel to
𝑦 = 0.8𝑥 − 2

(b) Find the 𝑥-intercept and 𝑦-intercept and gradient of the line
3𝑥 + 5𝑦 − 15 = 0

2
(c) What is the equation of the line that has a slope of − and 𝑦-
3
intercept of −4

(d) On the line passing through(2,3) and (-5,6), what is the 𝑦-

coordinate of the point where 𝑥 = 1?

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 The Point-Slope Formula

Suppose (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) is a known point

𝑚 is the slope of the line
(𝑥, 𝑦) is any other point on the line

Slope formula
𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑦 𝑦 − 𝑦1
𝑚= =
𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑥 𝑥 − 𝑥1
𝑦 − 𝑦1
𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥1 ) =
𝑥 − 𝑥1
𝑚 𝑥 − 𝑥1 = (𝑦 − 𝑦1 )

𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚 𝑥 − 𝑥1 Point slope formula

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 Example problem-4.11
Use the point slope formula to find an equation of the line having a slope of -3
and passing through the point (1,-4). Write the answer in slope intercept form.

m=-3 and (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 )=(1,-4)

𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚 𝑥 − 𝑥1
𝑦 − (−4) = −3 𝑥 − 1 Apply the point slope formula
𝑦 + 4 = −3𝑥 + 3
𝑦 = −3𝑥 + 3 − 4 = −3𝑥 − 1

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 Example problem-4.12
1. Find the equation of a straight line through the point (3,2) with slope 3

2. Find the equation of a straight line through the point (-1,3) with slope 5.

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 Two points form of the equation of a straight line

To find the equation of the straight line passing through two given points
𝐴 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 and 𝐵 𝑥2 , 𝑦2

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 Example problem-4.13
1. Find the equation of a line passing through the points (2,3) and (1,2)

2. Find the equation of a line passing through the points (2,0) and (0,1)

3. Find the equation of the line joining the points (3,2) and (5,0). Also, find
the intercepts made by this line on the axes.

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ANY QUESTION?

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