Final answer:
The correct linear equation representing the scenario where mountain climbers consume 15 pounds of food per day from a starting amount of 270 pounds is y = -15x + 270.
Step-by-step explanation:
The group of mountain climbers starts with 270 pounds of food and plans to eat 15 pounds per day. To represent this situation with a linear equation in slope-intercept form, where y represents the remaining food in pounds and x represents the number of days, the equation will show a decrease of 15 pounds per day from the initial amount of 270 pounds.
Therefore, the correct equation is y = -15x + 270. The slope, which is the rate at which food is being consumed, is -15. This indicates that each day, the amount of food decreases by 15 pounds. The y-intercept is 270, representing the starting quantity of food.