Final answer:
In Jewels' ferry ride scenario, the independent variable is the number of rides taken, and the dependent variable is the total cost incurred based on the rides. This follows the general rule where the dependent variable's outcome is determined by the choice made in the independent variable.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the scenario described, Jewels has a certain amount of money to spend on ferry rides, and each ride costs a fixed amount. Here, the number of ferry rides she can take is the independent variable, as it can be chosen freely by Jewels. The total cost of the ferry rides is the dependent variable, as it depends on the number of rides she takes.
Therefore, the correct answer is that the number of rides is the independent variable and the total cost is the dependent variable.
As for the given reference information, in the vacation resort case, the number of hours the equipment is rented is the independent variable, and the total fee is the dependent variable. This is similar to Jewels' scenario because the basic principle in both instances is about the relationship between a variable you can control (number of rides or hours) and a variable that depends on this control (total cost or total fee).
For example, if Jewels decides to ride the ferry 5 times, the total cost would be 5 rides × $0.45 per ride = $2.25. This demonstrates how the dependent variable (total cost) changes in response to a change in the independent variable (number of rides).