Final answer:
The best example of direct variation is when each diner at a table leaves a $3 tip, meaning the total tip is directly proportional to the number of diners.
Step-by-step explanation:
The situation that BEST describes a direct variation is a. Each of the diners at a table will leave a $3 tip. The more diners sitting at a table, the greater the total tip. This represents a direct variation because the total tip is directly proportional to the number of diners: if the number of diners increases, the total tip increases at a constant rate of $3 per diner.
Direct variation is described by the equation y = kx, where y is the dependent variable, x is the independent variable, and k is the constant of variation. In this case, the total tip (y) varies directly with the number of diners (x) with a constant of variation (k) of $3.