A rental car company charges [tex]$\$[/tex]0.50[tex]$ per mile and a flat rate of $[/tex]\[tex]$30.00$[/tex] for any type of sedan. If [tex]$m$[/tex] represents the number of miles driven and [tex]$C(m)$[/tex] represents the total cost for renting a sedan, what is the linear equation that represents a cost of [tex]$\$[/tex]130[tex]$?

A. $[/tex]30 = 0.50m + 130[tex]$
B. $[/tex]30 = 130m + 0.50[tex]$
C. $[/tex]130 = 0.50m + 30[tex]$
D. $[/tex]130 = 30m + 0.50$



Answer :

To find the linear equation that represents a cost of [tex]$130 when renting a car from a company that charges $[/tex]0.50 per mile and a flat rate of [tex]$30.00, we can follow these steps: 1. Identify the components of the problem: - The cost per mile is $[/tex]0.50.
- The flat rate is [tex]$30.00. - The total cost represents a combination of both the variable cost (based on miles driven, \(m\)) and the flat rate. - The total cost given is $[/tex]130.

2. Define the variables:
- Let [tex]\(m\)[/tex] represent the number of miles driven.
- Let [tex]\(C(m)\)[/tex] represent the total cost.

3. Set up the linear equation:
- The total cost [tex]\(C(m)\)[/tex] can be represented by the equation combining the flat rate and the mileage cost:
[tex]\[ C(m) = 0.50 \times m + 30 \][/tex]

4. Substitute the given total cost into the equation:
- We are given that the total cost is [tex]$130. Therefore, we can substitute $[/tex]130[tex]$ for \(C(m)\): \[ 130 = 0.50 \times m + 30 \] Thus, the linear equation that represents the total cost of $[/tex]130 when [tex]\(m\)[/tex] miles are driven is:
[tex]\[ 130 = 0.50 m + 30 \][/tex]

This matches the third option from the list:
[tex]\[ \boxed{130=0.50 m+30} \][/tex]