From the top of a mountain road, a surveyor takes several horizontal measurements x and several vertical measurements y, as shown in the table (x and y are measured in feet). 300 600 900 1200 y - 25 - 50 - 75 - 100 1500 1800 2100 y - 125 - 150 | – 175 (a) Sketch a scatter plot of the data. (b) Use a straightedge to sketch the line that you think best fits the data. (c) Find an equation for the line you sketched in part (b). (d) Interpret the meaning of the slope of the line in part (c) in the context of the problem. (e) The surveyor needs to put up a road sign that indicates the steepness of the road. For example, a surveyor would put up a sign that states "8% grade" on a road with a downhill grade that has a slope of – 10. What should the sign state for the road in this problem?

From the top of a
mountain road, a
surveyor takes
several horizontal
measurements x and
several vertical
measurements y,
as shown in the
table (x and y are
measured in feet).
x 300 600 900 1200
y −25 −50 −75 −100
x 1500 1800 2100
y −125 −150 −175
(a) Sketch a scatter plot of the data.
(b) Use a straightedge to sketch the line that you
think best fits the data.
(c) Find an equation for the line you sketched in
part (b).
(d) Interpret the meaning of the slope of the line in
part (c) in the context of the problem.
(e) The surveyor needs to put up a road sign that
indicates the steepness of the road. For example,
a surveyor would put up a sign that states “8%
grade” on a road with a downhill grade that has
a slope of − 8
100. What should the sign state for
the road in this problem?