Final answer:
Joe rented the boat for 6.6 hours, calculated by subtracting the flat fee from the total charge and dividing by the hourly rate.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine how many hours Joe rented the boat, we can set up a linear equation based on the information given. The company charges a flat fee of $22.75 for a small boat rental and $6.50 per hour that the boat is rented. Joe's total charge was $65.65.
Let's use the variable h to represent the number of hours the boat was rented. The total cost for renting the boat can be represented by the following equation:
Total cost = flat fee + (cost per hour × hours)
$65.65 = $22.75 + ($6.50 × h)
To find the value of h, we need to subtract the flat fee from the total cost and then divide by the cost per hour:
$65.65 - $22.75 = $6.50 × h
$42.90 = $6.50 × h
h = $42.90 / $6.50
h = 6.6
Therefore, Joe rented the boat for 6.6 hours.