Final answer:
The absolute-value equation for the minimum and maximum he can spend on each lunch is |x - 35/5| = 2. The minimum he can spend on each lunch is $5, and the maximum he can spend on each lunch is $9.
Step-by-step explanation:
To write an absolute-value equation for the minimum and maximum he can spend on each lunch, we can start by recognizing that his budget for lunch and rides each week is $35. After giving his friend $5 for gas, he has $30 left. With a $2 cushion in his budget, he can spend $2 more or less than he budgeted. Let's assume x represents the amount he spends on each lunch. The absolute-value equation for the minimum and maximum he can spend on each lunch would be |x - 35/5| = 2. The minimum he can spend on each lunch would be (35/5) - 2, which equals $5, and the maximum he can spend on each lunch would be (35/5) + 2, which equals $9.