Final answer:
Carol's Phone Service includes a one-time activation fee of $17.62 plus a variable fee of $3 per gigabyte of data used. The total monthly cost is determined by the amount of data used and follows a linear equation. This pricing is similar to other fixed and variable costs associated with services such as car payments, TV packages, and electricity bills.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carol's Phone Service offers a plan that includes an activation fee and a variable cost based on data usage. Specifically, they charge a $17.62 activation fee and an additional $3 for every gigabyte of data used. This pricing structure is a linear relationship between the cost and the data usage, where the total cost (C) is a function of the number of gigabytes (g) utilized. To model this, one could use the equation C = 17.62 + 3g. This allows us to calculate the total monthly cost for any given amount of data usage.
Understanding this structure is useful for budgeting purposes. For instance, just like selecting a car payment plan or an entertainment package, knowing the cost involving your phone service is essential for financial planning. The monthly cost of your phone service can add up quickly depending on your data needs. For example, if Carol uses 5 gigabytes of data in a month, her total cost would be 17.62 + (3 x 5) = $32.62 for that month. As we can see, the activation fee is a one-time charge, while the cost per gigabyte adds up with increased usage, similar to how a cable TV package or monthly power bill might vary according to the options you choose or your consumption patterns.