High School

Tim's company offers a reimbursement package of [tex]\$0.45[/tex] per mile plus [tex]\$175[/tex] a year for maintenance. If [tex]x[/tex] represents the number of miles, which equation below models [tex]C[/tex], the total amount of reimbursement the company offers?

A. [tex]C = 45x + 175[/tex]

B. [tex]C = 0.45x + 175[/tex]

C. [tex]C = 0.45 + 175[/tex]

D. [tex]C = 0.45 + 175x[/tex]

Answer :

Certainly! Let's break down the problem to understand how we arrive at the correct equation for reimbursement.

We are given that Tim's company reimburses him based on two components:

1. Reimbursement per mile: The company offers [tex]$0.45 per mile.
2. Annual maintenance cost: The company offers a fixed amount of $[/tex]175 for maintenance each year.

To find the total reimbursement, [tex]\( C \)[/tex], we need to consider both the variable component (mileage reimbursement) and the fixed component (annual maintenance):

1. Variable Component: This is the mileage reimbursement. If Tim drives [tex]\( x \)[/tex] miles, the reimbursement part related to mileage would be [tex]\( 0.45 \times x \)[/tex].

2. Fixed Component: This is the annual maintenance reimbursement which is a flat rate of $175, regardless of the number of miles driven.

To create the equation representing the total reimbursement, we simply sum these two components:

[tex]\[
C = 0.45x + 175
\][/tex]

Thus, the correct equation to model the total reimbursement is option B: [tex]\( C = 0.45x + 175 \)[/tex].

This equation incorporates both the mileage reimbursement and the fixed annual maintenance cost, giving the total amount the company offers.