I can see why this problem might feel tricky at first - when you see "related linearly," it's easy to overthink what that means. Let me walk you through this in a way that'll make it click.
Here's how to think about this:Step 1: Understand what "linearly related" meansWhen two scales are linearly related, they follow a straight-line relationship. Think of it like the connection between Celsius and Fahrenheit - there's a predictable pattern. You're given two points:
- When \(R = 6\), then \(S = 30\)
- When \(R = 24\), then \(S = 60\)
Your goal: Find \(R\) when \(S = 100\).
Step 2: Find the rate of change (slope)Let's see how both scales change together:
- R increases from 6 to 24 → that's an increase of 18
- S increases from 30 to 60 → that's an increase of 30
So the rate of change is \(\frac{30}{18} = \frac{5}{3}\)
This means: for every 3 units R increases, S increases by 5 units.
Step 3: Build the complete equationHere's the key insight - a linear relationship isn't just about the slope. It follows the pattern: \(S = \frac{5}{3} \times R + \text{constant}\)
To find that constant, plug in one of your known points. Using \(R = 6\) and \(S = 30\):
\(30 = \frac{5}{3} \times 6 + \text{constant}\)
\(30 = 10 + \text{constant}\)
\(\text{constant} = 20\)
So your complete equation is: \(S = \frac{5}{3}R + 20\)
Quick verification with the second point \((R = 24, S = 60)\):
\(S = \frac{5}{3} \times 24 + 20 = 40 + 20 = 60\) ✓
Step 4: Solve for R when S = 100Now substitute \(S = 100\):
\(100 = \frac{5}{3}R + 20\)
\(80 = \frac{5}{3}R\)
\(R = 80 \times \frac{3}{5} = \frac{240}{5} = 48\)
Answer: C (48)The biggest trap here? Many students assume it's just a simple ratio problem and try something like \(R \times 5 = S\), forgetting that linear relationships include that constant term (+20 in this case). That's what makes the difference!
Want to master this systematically?The approach I showed you works, but there's actually a more sophisticated framework for tackling all linear relationship problems efficiently. The complete solution on Neuron shows you the strategic approach that works across different variations of this question type, plus the time-saving patterns that help you spot the right setup instantly. You can check out the
detailed explanation on Neuron to see the full framework and understand how this pattern applies to other problems. You can also explore
comprehensive solutions for similar official questions on Neuron with practice quizzes that help you build consistent accuracy on these concepts.
Hope this helps!