This is Jake, he loves to watch or take part in bicycle races. He watches from his car or on live television. Jake is always trying to predict the outcome of the race between first and the second place cyclist.

He watches the first race to make the equations.

Racer 1 has a rate of 18 seconds per quarter mile with 4 mph winds to slow him.

He creates the equation y = 18x+4.

Racer 2 has a rate of 36 seconds per quarter mile with 4 mph of wind too.

He creates the equation y =36x+4

Jake creates these equations by using Y and X as Variables that represent the unknown quantities. He can solve the equation like this by Evaluating and finding the value by substituting a number for a variable.