Final answer:
The equation to represent Steve's rental cost for the paddle boat, which includes a $15 deposit fee and a $2 hourly charge, is 31 = 2x + 15, where 'x' represents the number of hours the boat is rented.
Step-by-step explanation:
To write an equation for Steve's rental cost from the Speedy Boat Rental, which charges a $15 deposit fee plus $2 for each hour of use, we can use the formula for a linear equation where the total cost depends on the number of hours the paddle boat is used. Steve's rental cost him $31, so we can set up the equation. The standard form of a linear equation is y = mx + b, where y represents the total cost, m is the rate per hour, x is the number of hours used, and b is the initial deposit fee. Substituting the given values into this equation, we get:
Total Cost (y) = $2 per hour (m) × Number of Hours (x) + $15 deposit (b)
Since Steve's total rental cost was $31, we substitute y with 31 to find the number of hours he rented the boat:
31 = 2x + 15
This equation can be used to solve for the number of hours Steve rented the paddle boat.