In the equation, y = 18.5x - 50, the variable x represents the number of guests and the variable y represents the total cost including the discounts.
What is an equation?
An equation refers to the statement that two or more mathematical expressions are equal or equivalent.
Expressions consist of variables, numbers, and constants without the equals sign (=), while an equation has two expressions, including the equals sign.
Thus, the variable x indicates the number of guests and variable y indicates the total cost, and they form the equation.