Question

car rental

number of miles (m)	total cost charged ($)
10	$31.00
15	$31.50
20	$32.00

which equation best represents c, the number of dollars mr. leonard should be charged for driving m miles?

• $c = 30m + 0.50$
• $c = 30m + 0.10$
• $c = 0.10m + 30$
• $c = 0.50m + 30$

Explanation:

Step1: Find the rate per mile

When miles increase by 5 (from 5 to 10), cost increases by $\$31.00 - \$30.50 = \$0.50$. Rate = $\frac{\$0.50}{5} = \$0.10$ per mile.

Step2: Find base cost (when m=0)

Use $m=5$, $c=\$30.50$. Base cost = $30.50 - (0.10 \times 5) = 30.50 - 0.50 = 30$.

Step3: Form the linear equation

Linear form: $c = (\text{rate})m + \text{base cost}$, so $c = 0.10m + 30$.

Answer:

$c = 0.10m + 30$