Final answer:
To relate the total cost of bowling to the number of games, identify the number of games as the independent variable and the total cost as the dependent variable.
Step-by-step explanation:
To write an equation relating the total cost of the outing to the number of games bowled, we first need to identify the independent and dependent variables. In the context provided, the number of games bowled is the independent variable, and the total cost is the dependent variable. If we are given or can determine the cost per game and any fixed costs (such as shoe rental or lane fees), the equation would generally take the form of a linear equation: Cost = (Cost per game × Number of games) + Fixed costs.
The independent variable, number of games bowled, is what we control or choose, while the dependent variable, total cost, changes in response. For example, if a bowling alley charges $4 per game and has a fixed shoe rental fee of $2, the equation would be: Cost = $4 × (Number of games) + $2, where '$2' is the y-intercept, representing the fixed cost, and '$4' is the slope, representing the cost per game.