Let's define the variables:
- Let \( h \) represent the number of hard cover books Santiago buys.
- Let \( s \) represent the number of soft cover books Santiago buys.
Based on the prices given for each type of book, we can formulate the equation. The cost of hard cover books is $2.00 each, and the cost of soft cover books is $1.00 each. Santiago spends a total of $30.
Thus, the two-variable equation representing the situation is:
\[ 2h + 1s = 30 \]
This equation captures the relationship between the number of hard cover books and soft cover books Santiago buys and the total amount spent.