Final answer:
To determine how long it took the repairman to fix Jess's washing machine, the total cost of $310 is broken down into an initial fee of $35 and the hourly rate of $55. After subtracting the initial fee and dividing by the hourly rate, the calculation reveals that the repair took 5 hours.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the number of hours it took for the repairman to fix Jess's washing machine, we can set up an equation based on the total cost and the repairman's fees. The repairman charges an initial fee plus an hourly rate, so the total cost can be represented as:
Total Cost = Initial Fee + (Hourly Rate × Number of Hours)
Substituting the given values, we get:
$310 = $35 + ($55 × Number of Hours)
To find the number of hours, we need to isolate the variable. Subtract the initial fee from both sides:
$310 - $35 = $55 × Number of Hours
Now, divide by the hourly rate:
($310 - $35) / $55 = Number of Hours
Doing the calculations, we find:
$275 / $55 = 5 hours
Thus, the repairman took 5 hours to fix the washing machine, which corresponds to choice (a).