Chapter 1.2, Problem 45E

Life Sciences

45. Deer Ticks Deer ticks are of concern because they can carry the parasite that causes Lyme disease. One study found a relationship between the density of acorns produced in the fall and the density of deer tick larvae the following spring. The relationship can be approximated by the linear function

$f(x)=34x+230,$

  where x is the number of acorns per square meter in the fall, and f(x) is the number of deer tick larvae per 400 square meters the following spring. Source: Science.

1. (a) Approximately how many acorns per square meter would result in 1000 deer tick larvae per 400 square meters?
2. (b) Find and interpret the slope of the line.