Final answer:
The equation for Shipping Company A's cost is B) Cost = 3x + 2, with $3 per pound as the variable cost and a $2 fixed handling fee.
Step-by-step explanation:
The equation for Shipping Company A's cost can be found by considering their pricing structure. They charge a fixed handling fee plus a variable rate per pound. According to the information provided, Shipping Company A charges $3 per pound plus a $2 handling fee. Therefore, if x represents the weight of the package in pounds, the total cost C can be calculated as C = 3x + 2. Here, the $3 is multiplied by the number of pounds (x), and the $2 is the fixed handling fee, which is added onto the variable cost. So the correct equation is B) Cost = 3x + 2.