To find out how many hours Steve paid to rent the bike, we can set up an equation based on the information given.
Let \( x \) be the number of hours Steve rented the bike.
The total cost for renting the bike can be expressed as: \[ \text{Total Cost} = \text{Fixed Fee} + (\text{Cost per Hour} \times \text{Number of Hours}) \] From the problem:
- The fixed fee is $11.
- The cost per hour is $9.
- The total cost paid by Steve is $56.
Putting this information into the equation, we have: \[ 56 = 11 + 9x \]
To solve for \( x \), first, subtract the fixed fee from both sides: \[ 56 - 11 = 9x \] \[ 45 = 9x \]
Next, divide both sides by 9: \[ x = \frac{45}{9} \] \[ x = 5 \]
Therefore, Steve rented the bike for 5 hours.