Final answer:
The total cost of Mr. Garcia's trip is calculated by adding the cost for car rental for 5 days at $29.95 per day to the mileage cost of $20 per 100 miles for a total of 550 miles. The correct expression for the total cost is option a: 5 * 29.95 + 6 * 20.
Step-by-step explanation:
The total cost of Mr. Garcia's trip can be calculated by combining two separate charges: the daily rental rate and the mileage charge. For the daily rental rate, we multiply the rate per day by the number of days Mr. Garcia rented the car. Given that the rate is $29.95 per day, and he rented the car for 5 days, this part of the cost is 5 * 29.95.
Next, for the mileage charge, since it is $20 per 100 miles, and Mr. Garcia drove 550 miles, we must determine how many 100-mile increments this distance covers. Since 550 miles is 5 full 100-mile increments plus an additional fraction of 100 (since the company charges for any fraction of 100), Mr. Garcia will be charged for 6 increments of 100 miles, equating to 6 * 20.
Therefore, the expression showing the total cost of Mr. Garcia's trip would be the sum of the daily rental rate and the mileage charge, which is option a: 5 * 29.95 + 6 * 20.