The table below gives the cost per person to rent a fishing charter boat. Find the rate of change given that it is constant. Also, explain what the rate of change means for this situation.

Question

2 110
3 165
4 220
5 275

Answer 1

To find the rate of change, we can calculate the difference in cost per person for each additional person.

For 2 people, the cost is $110. For 3 people, the cost is $165. The difference in cost for each additional person is $165 - $110 = $55.

Similarly, for 3 people, the cost is $165. For 4 people, the cost is $220. The difference in cost for each additional person is $220 - $165 = $55.

For 4 people, the cost is $220. For 5 people, the cost is $275. The difference in cost for each additional person is $275 - $220 = $55.

Since the difference in cost for each additional person is constant at $55, the rate of change is $55.

In this situation, the rate of change represents the increase in cost per person for each additional person added to the fishing charter boat rental. It means that for every additional person, the cost per person increases by $55.