Question

let $y = 3t + 6$ be a linear function representing the distance, in feet, from home for an ant $t$ minutes after starting out from a location near its home. what does the number 3 represent in this function? a. the ant is 3 feet from its home after $t$ minutes. b. the ant started out 3 feet from its home. c. the ant is crawling at 3 feet per minute. d. the ant is moving 3 feet every 6 minutes.

Explanation:

The given function $y=3t+6$ follows the slope-intercept form of a line $y=mt+b$, where $m$ is the rate of change and $b$ is the initial value. Here, $t$ is time in minutes and $y$ is distance in feet. The coefficient 3 is the slope, representing the rate of distance change over time, i.e., speed.

Answer:

C. The ant is crawling at 3 feet per minute.