To model the situation, we can create an equation where:
- \( C \) is the total cost,
- \( t \) is the number of tickets (which corresponds to the number of students and teachers).
In this case, the cost of transporting the group is a fixed cost of $500 for the bus rental, and each ticket costs $20. Thus, the total cost can be represented as:
\[ C = 500 + 20t \]
Now, if 60 students and teachers plan to attend, we substitute \( t = 60 \) into the equation:
\[ C = 500 + 20(60) \] \[ C = 500 + 1200 \] \[ C = 1700 \]
Thus, the correct equation is \( C = 500 + 20t \) and the total cost for the event is $1,700.
The correct answer is: A) C = 500 + 20t; $1,700