Solve the following three problems, completing a, b, and c for each problem. In “b” for
each, explain step by step how you arrived at the answer. And in “c” for each, conduct research to arrive at a
strong (informative) paragraph, being sure to cite sources.
Problem #1: According to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 16.3 million union workers in
2000 and 14.7 million union workers in 2018.
a. If the change in the number of union workers is considered to be linear, write an equation expressing the
number y of union workers in terms of the number x of years since 2000.
b. Assuming that the equation in part “a” remains accurate, use it to predict the number of union workers in
2050.
c. Is the number that you came up with in 1b realistic? Why or why not? What can interfere with the future
number of union workers that the equation does not account for?
Problem #2: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 1990, 529,000 people worked in the air
transportation industry. In 2018, the number was 498,780.
a. Find a linear equation giving the number of employees in the air transportation industry in terms of x, the
number of years since 1990.
b. Assuming the equation remains valid in the future, in what year will there be 400,000 employees in the air
transportation industry?
c. Is the number you came up with in 2b realistic? Why or why not? What can interfere with the future number
of employees working in the air transportation industry that the equation does not account for?
Problem #3: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that in 1990, 1.1 million people worked in the truck
transportation industry. In 2018, the number was 1.5 million.
a. Find a linear equation giving the number of employees in the truck transportation industry in terms of x, the
number of years since 1990.
b. Assuming the equation remains valid in the future, in what year will there be 2.5 million employees in the
truck transportation industry?
c. Is the number you came up with in 3b realistic? Why or why not? What can interfere with the future number
of employees working in the trucking industry that the equation does not account for?
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational employment statistics. Retrieved from
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_484000.htm#00-0000.
Sample Solution
