To determine the cost of [tex]\( t \)[/tex] pounds of tomatoes when the store sells 2 pounds for \[tex]$7, let's break down the problem step by step.
1. Identify the cost per pound of tomatoes:
- We know that 2 pounds of tomatoes cost \$[/tex]7.
- To find the cost per pound, we divide the total cost by the number of pounds:
[tex]\[
\text{Cost per pound} = \frac{7 \, \text{dollars}}{2 \, \text{pounds}} = 3.5 \, \text{dollars per pound}
\][/tex]
2. Formulate the equation for the total cost:
- Let [tex]\( c \)[/tex] represent the total cost in dollars.
- Let [tex]\( t \)[/tex] represent the number of pounds of tomatoes.
- Since each pound of tomatoes costs \$3.5, the total cost [tex]\( c \)[/tex] for [tex]\( t \)[/tex] pounds of tomatoes will be the cost per pound multiplied by the number of pounds:
[tex]\[
c = 3.5 \times t
\][/tex]
Thus, the equation representing the cost [tex]\( c \)[/tex] for [tex]\( t \)[/tex] pounds of tomatoes is:
[tex]\[
c = 3.5 \times t
\][/tex]
