(Solved): The marriage rate per 1000 population for the years \( 1997-2009 \) is given by M(x) \( =-0.139 x+1 ...

The marriage rate per 1000 population for the years \( 1997-2009 \) is given by M(x) \( =-0.139 x+16.064 \), where \( x \) is the number of years after 1980 , a. Why is this a linear tunction, with \( y=M(x) \) ? b. What is the slope? What does this slope say about the number of unmarried women who get marrid? a. Choose the correct answer below. A. This a linear function because \( x \) and \( y \) appear to the second power. B. This a linear function because \( y \) is alone on the left side of the equation. C. This a linear function because \( x \) and \( y \) are not in separate tems. D. This a linear function because each of the variables \( x \) and \( y \) appear to the first power and it is writien in the form \( y=a x+b \). b. What is the slope? (Type an integer or a decimal.) What does this slope say about the number of unmarned women who get marned? Choose the oorrect answer below. A. It increased at a rate of \( 0.139 \) per thousand per year. B. It decreased at a rate of \( 16.064 \) per thousand per year. C. It increased at a rate of \( 16.064 \) per thousand per year. D. It decrensed at a rate of \( 0.139 \) per thousand per year.