The value of a computer bought in 1998 decreases as time passes. Two years after the computer was bought, it was worth $2,600. Five years after it was bought, it was worth $2,000.

If the relationship between number of years past 1998 and value of the computer is linear, write an equation describing this relationship to help predict the value of the computer in future years.
HINT: Use ordered pairs of the form: (years past 1998, vlaue of the computer)

A) y=-200x+3000
B) y=200x+3000
C) y=-200x-1000
D) y=-200x+1000

To find the equation describing the relationship between the number of years past 1998 and the value of the computer, we can use the two given data points: (2, $2600) and (5, $2000).

First, let's assign variables to the years past 1998 (x) and the value of the computer (y). The equation will be y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept.

Next, we can determine the slope (m) using the formula: slope = (change in y) / (change in x). Using the two data points, we have:
m = (2000 - 2600) / (5 - 2)
m = -600 / 3
m = -200

Now that we have the slope, we need to find the y-intercept (b). We can select either data point and substitute its values into the equation y = mx + b. Let's use the point (2, $2600):
2600 = -200 * 2 + b
2600 = -400 + b
b = 3000

Therefore, the equation describing the relationship between the number of years past 1998 and the value of the computer is:
y = -200x + 3000

So, the correct answer is A) y = -200x + 3000.