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 = 0.45 + 175x[/tex]
B. [tex]C = 0.45 + 175[/tex]
C. [tex]C = 0.45x + 175[/tex]
D. [tex]C = 45x + 175[/tex]

Answer :

To solve the problem of determining which equation correctly models the total amount of reimbursement the company offers, we need to understand the components of the reimbursement package:

1. Mileage Reimbursement: The company offers [tex]$0.45 per mile. This means that for every mile driven, an employee is reimbursed $[/tex]0.45. If [tex]\( x \)[/tex] represents the number of miles driven, the reimbursement for mileage is [tex]\( 0.45x \)[/tex].

2. Annual Maintenance Fee: Additionally, the company provides a flat amount of [tex]$175 per year for maintenance. This is a constant amount that does not depend on the number of miles driven.

To find the total reimbursement \( C \), we add together both the mileage reimbursement and the annual maintenance fee. Therefore, the expression that models this is:

\[ C = 0.45x + 175 \]

Now, let's analyze each of the options given to identify the correct one:

A. \( C = 0.45 + 175x \): This option incorrectly adds $[/tex]0.45 directly to [tex]\( 175x \)[/tex], which is not appropriate since [tex]$0.45 should be multiplied by the miles (\( x \)).

B. \( C = 0.45 + 175 \): This option doesn't account for the number of miles driven, thus it doesn't include the variable \( x \), which makes it incorrect.

C. \( C = 0.45x + 175 \): This option correctly models the reimbursement by multiplying $[/tex]0.45 by the miles ([tex]\( x \)[/tex]), then adding the [tex]$175 annual maintenance fee.

D. \( C = 45x + 175 \): This option uses $[/tex]45 per mile instead of $0.45, which is not correct.

Thus, the correct equation that models the total reimbursement is option C:

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