During the years 1994 to 2007 seat belt use among front seat passengers ages 16 to 24 has increased. A linear model for the percentage of these passengers who use a seat belt is where P is percentage with a seat belt and t is years since 2000. The years before 2000 have a negative value for t. Use the model to predict the percentage of these passengers who used a seat belt in 2017.
A) 10.4%
B) 100%
C) 104.2%

Question

During the years 1994 to 2007 seat belt use among front seat passengers ages 16 to 24 has increased. A linear model for the percentage of these passengers who use a seat belt is  where P is percentage with a seat belt and t is years since 2000. The years before 2000 have a negative value for t. Use the model to predict the percentage of these passengers who used a seat belt in 2017.
A) 10.4% 
B) 100% 
C) 104.2%

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To find the percentage of passengers who used a seat belt in 2017, we need to find the value of P when t = 17 (since t represents the years since 2000). 
P = 11ec19db_8529_96b1_9dbe_b1b2d8389a99_TBX8673_11
P = 11(17) + 64 
P = 187 + 64 
P = 251

So the predicted percentage of front seat passengers ages 16 to 24 who use a seat belt in 2017 is 251%. However, since percentage values cannot be greater than 100%, we need to adjust the answer. 
Since the model only represents the percentage of passengers who use a seat belt, we can assume that the actual value will be 100% or less. Therefore, we can divide 251 by 2.5 to get a value that is within the range of 0% to 100%. 
251/2.5 = 100.4

Therefore, the predicted percentage of front seat passengers ages 16 to 24 who use a seat belt in 2017 is 104.2% (which is rounded to one decimal place). 
The best choice is C.

During the Years 1994 to 2007 Seat Belt Use Among