Final answer:
The correct equation for the word problem is 3x + 15 = 52.50. Solving for 'x' gives us the cost of each book which is $12.50, corresponding to option C.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find out how much each book costs in the given word problem, we need to set up a linear equation based on the details provided. Sam's book club charges a $15 membership fee, and Sam orders 3 books with a total bill of $52.50. To represent the cost of each book, we use 'x' as the variable. Therefore, the equation will include the membership fee and the cost of the three books together equalling the total bill.
The correct equation is 3x + 15 = 52.50, where '3x' is the cost of the three books and '15' is the membership fee. To find the value of 'x,' which represents the cost of each book, we solve for 'x' as follows:
3x + 15 = 52.50
3x = 52.50 - 15
3x = 37.50
x = 37.50 / 3
x = 12.50
So, the cost of each book is $12.50, which corresponds to option C: 3x + 15 = 52.50, x = 12.5.