This question is modelling a linear equation of the form #y=mx+b#, where #c# is the y-intercept, #m# is the slope, #y# is dependent on #x# and #x# and #y# are different kinds of value, like time and distance, or money and time. What a linear equation tells us is that when #x=# a number, #y=mx+b#. For example, in the linear equation #y=3x+4#, when #x=1#,
#y= (3*1)+4#
#y=3+4#
#y=7#
The question above is stating that that #m=2#, and since we assume the table had no water in it before it started to fill, we can say that #c=0#. Therefor the linear equation is #y=2x+0#, or #y=2x#. Your question also states that #x# is equal to one minute, and #y# is the height, since the height of the water is dependent on how much water there is. The slope determines the height of the water every minute in inches, and since the slope is 2, the height is equal to 2 inches per minute.
I hope I helped!
