Hmm...as a former journalist turned algebra teacher, I respect the effort but am still scratching my head. Am I to assume that T(x) is shorthand summary of the {2,500-5,000}x term in the first equation? If so, extremely bad news from the generals [i.e. the domain 0 ≤ x 1 range are an ironic commentary on your part. As the graph shows, troop levels in this range approach an asymptotic value of 140,000, indicating that McCain never had any intention of withdrawing troops at all.

Again, this all depends on what the function T(x) stands for in the McCain equation. If it is indeed a stand-in for {2,500-5,000}x, I'll give you a chance at some extra credit: You can solve the following system of equations question I would give to me ninth grade students if they encountered these same two equations:

Assuming a conservative pullout rate of one brigade (2,500 troops) per month in both plans, how bad does the news have to be for the Obama and McCain to leave the same number troops in Iraq after 16 months?

You can use the following quantitative scale to define "bad":

0≤ x ≤ 0.3 -- very, very bad (i.e. Russian Front 1944 bad)

0.3 < x ≤ 0.7 -- very bad (i.e. Vietnam bad)

0.7 < x < 1 -- kinda bad (i.e. Iraq now bad)