Based on the information provided from the graph about Amanda's earnings for watching her little cousins, we can observe a pattern in her hourly pay. The graph indicates that Amanda starts earning at the y-intercept of $5, which likely represents a fixed fee for beginning her babysitting service.
For her hourly rate, we can see that for 1 hour, she earns $15, and for 2 hours, she earns $25. This gives us a clue about the additional amount she earns for each additional hour after the initial fee.
To determine her hourly rate, we can see the change in her pay from 1 hour to 2 hours:
- Earnings for 1 hour = $15
- Earnings for 2 hours = $25
The difference between these two amounts is: \( 25 - 15 = 10 \)
This tells us that her hourly rate beyond the first hour is $10 per hour.
Now, let's confirm that she makes $10 for each hour after the first: From the first hour:
- For 1 hour: $15 (including initial fee)
- For 2 hours: $25 (initial fee + 10 for the second hour)
To predict how much she will make for 7 hours, we would break it down like this:
- The initial fee for starting = $5
- The pay for the first hour (after the initial fee) = $15
- For hours 2 through 7 (which is a total of 6 additional hours), she makes $10 per hour.
Calculating her total pay:
- For the first hour: $15
- For the additional 6 hours: \( 6 \times 10 = 60 \)
Adding these amounts together: \( 15 + 60 = 75 \)
Thus, if Amanda watches her cousins for seven hours, she would make $75. Using the graph effectively helps us identify her fixed fee and hourly rate, making it easier to project her earnings.