The annual tuition at a specific college was $20,500 in 2000, and $45,4120

in 2018. Let x be the year since 2000, and y be the tuition. Write an

equation that can be used to find the tuition y for x years after 2000. Use

your equation to estimate the tuition at this college in 2020.

Step-by-step explanation:

Assuming the rate of increase in the cost of tuition fee per year is linear. We would apply the formula for determining the nth term of an arithmetic sequence which is expressed as

Tn = a + (n - 1) d

Where

a represents the first term of the sequence.

d represents the common difference.

n represents the number of terms in the sequence.

From the information given,

a = $20500 (amount in 2000)

From 2000 to 2018, the number of terms is 19, hence,

n = 19

T19 = 454120

Therefore,

454120 = 20500 + (19 - 1) d

454120 - 20500 = 18d

18d = 433620

d = 433620/18

d = 24090

Therefore, the equation that can be used to find the tuition y for x years after 2000 is expressed as

y = 20500 + 24090 (x - 1)

To to estimate the tuition at this college in 2020, the number of terms between 2000 and 2020 is 21, hence

x = 21

y = 20500 + 24090 (21 - 1)

y = 20500 + 481800

y = $502300