How do you do this problem ?

Question

Solve.
A small-business research project estimated that for the years 1998-2003, the total number of retail bicycle stores in a particular region would grow according to the linear equation where x is the number of years after 1998. Graph the equation and use the graph to predict the total number of retail bicycle stores in 2008.

There are a thousand stores

Answer 1

So far, so good.
Now........... What's 'the linear equation' they gave you??
Ya kinda gotta know that as well ☺

Doug