Write the rule from a situation, step by step

A gym charges $25 to join and $12 a month.

The question

$40 to rent, then $10 a day. Write y in terms of x, where x is the number of days.

Find the start and the rate, then write the rule

b=40
m=10
y = 10x + 40
  1. "$40 to rent, then $10 a day". Two numbers, and they do different jobs. Find the one that is there before anything happens — that is b, the start.
  2. The other number goes with every one of the days, so it is m, the rate. It is added each time, so m is 10.
  3. Put them into y = mx + b in that order — the rate multiplies x, the start stands alone.

How it works.

  1. 01

    "$40 to rent, then $10 a day". Two numbers, and they do different jobs. Find the one that is there before anything happens — that is b, the start.

  2. 02

    The other number goes with every one of the days, so it is m, the rate. It is added each time, so m is 10.

  3. 03

    Put them into y = mx + b in that order — the rate multiplies x, the start stands alone.