Question

Ryan is a salesperson who sells computers at an electronics store. He makes a base pay amount each day and then is paid a commission for every computer sale he makes. The equation P = 17.50x + 65 represents Ryan's total pay on a day on which he sells xx computers. What is the y-intercept of the equation, and what is its interpretation in the context of the problem?

A. $65; It represents Ryan's base pay.
B. $17.50; It represents the commission for selling one computer.
C. $65; It represents Ryan's total pay when he sells zero computers.
D. $17.50; It represents Ryan's total pay when he sells zero computers.

Answer 1

The y-intercept of the equation P = 17.50x + 65 is 65, which represents the base pay Ryan earns on days he does not sell any computers.

Step-by-step explanation:

The equation P = 17.50x + 65 represents the pay structure for Ryan, a salesperson selling computers. In this equation, P is the total pay Ryan earns on any given day, and x is the number of computers sold. Looking at the equation, the y-intercept is the constant term, which in this case is 65. The y-intercept in the context of this problem is Ryan's base pay, which he earns regardless of the number of computers sold.

Therefore, the correct interpretation for the y-intercept is that it represents the amount of money Ryan makes on a day when he sells zero computers. This base pay is a guaranteed amount, separate from his commission earned from sales. The correct answer to the original question is C. $65; It represents Ryan's total pay when he sells zero computers.