Final answer:
To find the function that describes the cost of a printing job based on the number of copies made, we establish a system of linear equations from the given costs for specific quantities. After solving for the fixed cost (f) and the cost per copy (c), we formulate the function y = f + cx, where y is the total cost and x is the number of copies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking how to find a function that describes the cost of a printing job based on the number of copies made. We know that the printer charges a fixed setup cost and a charge for every additional copy.
We have two instances here:
- 80 copies for $36
- 242 copies for $46
Let's denote the fixed setup cost by f and the cost per copy by c. Then the two equations we have based on the given information would be:
- 36 = f + 80c
- 46 = f + 242c
This forms a system of linear equations, which we can solve using methods such as substitution or elimination to find f and c. Once found, the function describing the total cost, y, for x copies would be y = f + cx.