A heated piece of metal cools according to the function c(x) = (.5)^x- 9, where x is measured in hours. A device is added that aids in cooling according to the function h(x) = -x - 2. What will be the temperature of the metal after five hours? (1 point)

The linear equation is: y=ax+b

Look, when you want to do something like put it like x^2. x2 could mean x² or x₂. so to clear confusion, know the notation. to find the product multiply the x's and you get -8x and the y's and you get 6y. since it's all being multiplied it is just -8x6y, or answer a. although the better answer is -48xy(combining -8 and 6) because you should multiply constants whenever you can.