Collee Algebra: profit margin follows a linear equation

[Jennifer_b_2009]

The profit margin for a certain business follows a linear equation. If it had sales of $54,000 in 2001 and $ 87,000 in 2005, what is the linear equation for the profit?

I forgot how to start to solve this equation.
Which method do I use?

 

[mmm4444bot]

Sales are not the same as profit. Sales are revenue. The profit margin depends upon how much the business pays out in costs.

If the sales were to follow a linear equation, too, then you could write a linear equation for sales.

Let x = the year

Let y = the sales

Two given points on the graph of this line are (2001, 54000) and (2005, 87000).

Do you know how to calculate the slope of this line using the coordinates of two points in the slope formula?

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

After you find the number m, use the point-slope formula to write the equation of the line.

y - y1 = m * (x - x1)