19 The salvage or depreciated value, \( V \), of a new truck purchased for \( \$ 58,000 \) is given by the linear function \( V(t)=58,000 \) - \( 4,000 t \), where \( t \) is the time in years between 0 and 10 . What is the correct interpretation of \( V(3) \) ? The truck's depreciated value after 5 years is \( \$ 54,000 \). The truck's depreciated value after 3 years is \( \$ 46,000 \). The truck's depreciated value after 5 years is \( \$ 42,000 \). The depreciated value after 3 years is \( \$ 50,000 \).

To interpret \( V(3) \), we substitute \( t = 3 \) into the function \( V(t) = 58,000 - 4,000t \). Calculating this gives us \( V(3) = 58,000 - 4,000 \times 3 = 58,000 - 12,000 = 46,000 \). So, \( V(3) \) represents the truck's depreciated value after 3 years, which is indeed \( \$ 46,000 \). Imagine if you had that truck sitting in your driveway for three years. Every year, it loses \( \$ 4,000 \) in value, and by the end of year three, it's as if your shiny new ride just lost its spark and become worth only \( \$ 46,000 \)! Keep an eye on that depreciation; it's going down faster than your excitement on a Monday morning!