The data table represents the distance between a well-known lighthouse and a cruise ship over time. the cruise ship is travelling at uniform speed. which equation represents the distance (y) from the lighthouse, based on the number of hours (x)?

number of hours distance from lighthouse
(in oceanic miles)
2 53
4 95.5
6 138
8 180.5
10 223
12 265.5
14 308
16 350.5

y = 42.5x + 10.5
y = 10.5x + 32
y = 21.5x + 10.5
y = 12.25x + 28.5
y = 12.5x + 10.5

Find the velocity first, the "slope".

m=(y2-y1)/(x2-x1)

m=(95.5-53)/(4-2)

m=21.25  ?  Your equations are wrong, I'll double check with another set of points...

m=(350.5-308)/(16-14)

m=21.25  LOL, yep none of your lines has the correct slope.

Anyway...

y=21.25x+b, using any point we can solve for the y-intercept, or "b", (2, 53)

53=21.25(2)+b

53=42.5+b

10.5=b so the distance to the lighthouse as a function of time is:

y=21.25x+10.5

So essentially, you should fire your teacher or burn that book you are using :)