Question

When visiting Baltimore, MD, you need to rent a taxi to get from your hotel to the African American History Museum. The taxi company charges a flat fee of $6.50 for using the taxi and $0.55 per mile.

a) Write an equation in slope-intercept form that models this situation.
b) If you traveled 15 miles, how much is the total cost for the trip?
a) y = 0.55x + 6.50
b) $15.25
c) $15.75
d) $9.25"

Answer 1

The linear equation modeling the taxi cost in Baltimore, MD, is y = 0.55x + 6.50. To determine the total cost for a 15-mile trip, substitute 15 for x in the equation to get $14.75, which is the correct answer not listed among the options provided.

Step-by-step explanation:

The situation described can be modelled by a linear equation, which is a common application of understanding slope and y-intercept in algebra.

Part a: Equation in Slope-Intercept Form

The slope-intercept form of a linear equation is y = mx + b. In this taxi rental scenario, 'm' represents the cost per mile, and 'b' represents the flat fee. Therefore, the equation that models the cost (y) of the taxi ride based on the number of miles (x) travelled is:

y = 0.55x + 6.50

Part b: Total Cost Calculation

To find the total cost for a 15-mile trip, substitute x = 15 into the equation:

y = 0.55(15) + 6.50
y = 8.25 + 6.50
y = 14.75

The correct total cost for the 15-mile trip is $14.75, which means the correct answer is not listed among the options provided.