In 1999 there were 4076 J. C. Penney stores and in 2003 there were 1078 stores. Write a linear
equation that gives the number of stores in terms of the
year. Let i = 9 represent 1999. Then predict the numbers
of stores for the years 2008 and 2010. Are your answers
reasonable? Explain.

infinitely many solutions

step-by-step explanation:

we have been given the equation;

2(2x + 3) = -4 + 2(2x + 5)

we need to determine the value of x.

2(2x + 3), we expand this expression to obtain 4x + 6

similarly 2(2x + 5) will become 4x + 10

now we have;

4x + 6 = -4 + 4x + 10

4x + 6 = 4x + 10 - 4

4x + 6 = 4x + 6

the expression on the left hand side is identical to the one on the right hand side. therefore, we are looking at just a single straight line whose equation is;

y = 4x + 6

consequently, we shall have infinitely many solutions