The equation \( 12h + 30 = 258 \) best represents the situation:
Eric was paid $30 last week. He was paid a $258 bonus and $12 for each hour he worked. What is h, the number of hours Eric worked last week?
Here, \( 12h \) represents the total amount paid for the hours worked (at $12 per hour), \( 30 \) is an additional fixed amount (like a regular payment), and the total payout is \( 258 \).
Thus, the correct response is the first option given in the list.