Final answer:
The situation best represented by the equation 40w + 12.50 = 492.50 is option D, where Nicole paid a $12.50 registration fee and $40 for each week she was enrolled in classes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The equation 40w + 12.50 = 492.50 represents the total amount Nicole paid for self-defense classes, which includes a fixed fee and a variable weekly cost. To find the scenario that matches this equation, we need to identify the fixed fee and the cost per week. By examining the components of the equation, we can see that the fixed fee is $12.50 and the cost per week is $40.
Therefore, the correct representation of the equation is option D: Nicole paid a total of $492.50 for self-defense classes. She paid a $12.50 registration fee and $40 for each week she was enrolled in the classes. The variable w represents the number of weeks Nicole was enrolled in self-defense classes.