Final answer:
To calculate the total cost for a 500 square foot lawn, multiply the area by the per square foot rate ($0.05) and add the $10 tip fee, leading to a total of $35. The pricing model includes a fixed fee plus a variable fee based on usage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is asking to calculate the total cost for mowing a lawn with an area of 500 square feet when a lawn care company charges a $10 tip fee and a rate of $0.05 per square foot. To calculate the total cost, you need to understand the pricing model, which consists of a fixed charge (also known as a one-time fee or base rate) plus a variable charge that depends on the quantity consumed or used (in this case, the square footage). The fixed charge here is the tip fee.
Here is the step-by-step calculation:
The total cost is calculated as follows:
Variable cost = 500 square feet * $0.05/square foot = $25
Fixed cost (tip fee) = $10
Total cost = Variable cost + Fixed cost = $25 + $10 = $35
The correct option in the final answer is that the total cost for mowing a lawn of 500 square feet will be $35.