Final answer:
The difference in cost between Company Y and Company Z as a function of minutes used, x, is represented by the function D(x) = 10 - 0.10x.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking how to represent the difference in cost between two cell phone companies, Y and Z, as a function of the number of minutes used, x. Company Y charges a $10 start-up fee plus $0.10 per minute, while Company Z charges $0.20 per minute with no start-up fee. To express the difference in cost as a function, we first define the two cost functions: Let CY(x) = 10 + 0.10x for Company Y and CZ(x) = 0.20x for Company Z. The difference in cost function, D(x), is found by subtracting the cost of Company Z from the cost of Company Y: D(x) = CY(x) - CZ(x) = (10 + 0.10x) - (0.20x), which simplifies to D(x) = 10 - 0.10x.