Which answer choice is a possible scenario to represent the algebraic expression

?

The variable
is the number of days a dog stays at a kennel. It costs $75 times the number of days the dog stays at the kennel.

The variable
is the number of days a dog stays at a kennel. It costs $25 each day, and the dog owner has a coupon for $50 off the price.

The variable
is the number of days a dog stays at a kennel. It costs $50 plus $25 times the number of days.

The variable
is the number of days a dog stays at a kennel. It costs $25 plus $50 each day.

1 answer

The algebraic expression you're looking to represent likely incorporates a cost structure based on the number of days a dog stays at a kennel. Let's break down each option:

  1. $75 times the number of days: This can be expressed as \( 75d \), where \( d \) is the number of days. This option represents a linear cost that increases directly with the number of days stayed.

  2. $25 each day, and a $50 coupon off: This can be expressed as \( 25d - 50 \). Here, the cost is calculated per day and then discounted by the coupon, which also represents a linear cost function.

  3. $50 plus $25 times the number of days: This can be expressed as \( 50 + 25d \). This scenario indicates that there is a flat fee of $50, plus $25 for each day. This is a common pricing structure in services.

  4. $25 plus $50 each day: This can be expressed as \( 25 + 50d \). This means there is a flat fee of $25, plus $50 per day, also representing a linear cost structure.

Based on these breakdowns, each answer choice is a possible scenario that can be represented algebraically, but they represent different pricing structures. The typical structure most commonly used in cost scenarios involves a base fee plus a variable cost per day (Option 3, \( 50 + 25d \), is a very common pricing structure).

If you need to choose just one as a standard example of the cost structure, Option 3 (the variable being the number of days with a fixed fee plus a cost per day), would be a representative algebraic expression.