Final answer:
The cost of a speeding ticket in Northwest Washington County for speed s in a 55 mph zone is represented by the expression C = 10(s - 55) + 50, where C is the total cost of the ticket.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Northwest Washington County, the cost of a speeding ticket can be modeled by an expression that includes a fine based on how much over the speed limit a driver is traveling, plus a processing fee. The fine is $10 for every mile per hour over the speed limit, and the processing fee is a flat $50. If the speed limit is 55 mph, then for any speed s that a driver is traveling over the 55 mph limit, the cost C of the ticket issued can be calculated with the following expression:
C = 10(s - 55) + 50
This equation takes into account the additional $10 for every mile per hour the driver is going over the speed limit of 55 mph. The speed will incur a fine that grows linearly with the speed, s, and the processing fee is added to this total fine.