Final answer:
Alex had y - $22.50 after spending $22.50 on a book. This is because the spent amount is subtracted from the original sum.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks how much money Alex had after spending $22.50 for a book, given that he originally had y dollars. The correct answer is y - 22.50 dollars because when you spend money, that amount is subtracted from what you originally have. Therefore, after purchasing the book for $22.50, Alex would have y dollars minus the cost of the book, which is y - $22.50.