Final answer:
To calculate the total cost for Michelle's skiing trip, the student must use a linear equation involving a flat fee and an hourly rate, which results in a total cost of $79.31.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question relates to solving a problem that involves a linear equation. To calculate the total cost of Michelle's skiing trip, we apply the linear equation that reflects the ski lodge's pricing policy, which is a flat fee plus a rate per hour.
First, let's determine the total amount of time Michelle went skiing. Since she skied for 5 3/4 hours, we convert this mixed number to an improper fraction, which is 23/4 hours. Now, we can calculate the total cost using the formula:
Total Cost = Flat Fee + (Hourly Rate × Number of Hours Skied)
Plugging in the values for the flat fee and the hourly rate:
Total Cost = $29.00 + ($8.75 × 23/4)
We then multiply the hourly rate by the number of hours to find out the additional charges and add that to the flat fee:
Total Cost = $29.00 + $50.31
Therefore, the total cost of Michelle's skiing trip is $79.31.