The retail flat rate in dollars for first-class mail weighing up to 5 ounces could be computed by the piecewise-constant function P, where x is the number of ounces.

step-by-step explanation:

let

we know that

the y-intercept is the y-coordinate of the point when the value of x is equal to zero

so

the y-coordinate of the point a is the y-intercept

the answer part a) is

the value of y-intercept is

part b) find the slope m

we know that

the value of the slope is equal to

substitute the values

therefore

the answer part b) is

the value of the slope is equal to

the general answer is

the slope is

the value of y-intercept is