To determine the independent and dependent variables in the given equation [tex]\( c = 25 + 0.6m \)[/tex], we need to understand the relationship between the two variables involved.
1. The cost [tex]\( c \)[/tex] represents how much you will pay in dollars.
2. The number of miles [tex]\( m \)[/tex] represents how far you travel in the truck.
In this context, the cost [tex]\( c \)[/tex] depends on the number of miles [tex]\( m \)[/tex] traveled. Therefore:
- The number of miles [tex]\( m \)[/tex] is what you control or choose, which makes it the independent variable.
- The cost [tex]\( c \)[/tex] changes based on the number of miles [tex]\( m \)[/tex], making it the dependent variable as it "depends" on [tex]\( m \)[/tex].
Therefore, the independent variable is the number of miles traveled, and the dependent variable is the cost.
To explicitly fill in the blanks:
The number of miles (m) is the independent variable.
The cost (c) is the dependent variable.