Question

The cost of a service call to fix a washing machine can be expressed by the linear function y = 45 x + 35, where y represents the total cost and x represents the number of hours it takes to fix the machine. What does the y-intercept represent? the cost for each hour it takes to repair the machine the service fee for coming to look at the machine the total cost for fixing the washing machine the amount of time that it takes to arrive at the home to make the repairs

Answer 1

The y-intercept is where the line starts on a graph. The y-intercept is 35.

This number doesn't change ever in the linear expression.

"45x" represents the slope of the line and "the number of hours it takes to fix the machine." y represents the total cost.

35 is the only value that doesn't get altered in the expression because its by it self.

The first option doesn't make much sense because it represents "45x" not the y-intercept.

The second option makes sense because the cost for looking at the machine doesn't change which represents the starting amount.

The third option doesn't make much sense because the total cost to fix the machine is represented by "y" in the original expression. It even says so in the question, "where y represents the total cost."

The fourth option doesn't make much sense because it has nothing to do with the actual problem it self.

Therefore, the only logical answer is "the service fee for coming to look at the machine."

Best of Luck!

Answer 2

B. The service fee for coming to look at the machine

Explanation:

Whenever we have a linear equation like this in real-world problems, the y-intercept always represents a fixed cost of some sort.

Here, 35 is the y-intercept. It cannot represent "the cost for each hour it takes to repair the machine" because that's what 45 means.

It cannot represent "the total cost for fixing the washing machine" because that's what y means.

And it cannot represent "the amount of time that it takes to arrive at the home to make the repairs" because that's what x means.

Thus, 35 must be the service fee. This is the upfront fee that is fixed and doesn't change depending on time.

Hope this helps!