To find an equation to determine \( m \), the number of miles in the taxi ride, we can set up the relationship based on the total fare charged by the taxi company.
The total fare consists of a pick-up fee and a charge per mile. The components of the fare are:
- Pick-up fee: \( 2.50 \)
- Cost per mile: \( 3.50 \) per mile \( \times m \) miles
Given that the total fare is \( 79.50 \), we can write the equation as follows:
\[ 2.50 + 3.50m = 79.50 \]
This equation can be used to solve for \( m \), the number of miles in the taxi ride.