Question

While on vacation, you rent a scooter. You pay $7.50 for each hour you use it. It costs $3 to rent a helmet. Write an algebraic expression that describes the total cost in terms of hours, `x`, that you rent the scooter.

Answer 1

To write an algebraic expression for the total cost in terms of hours, \( x \), you can break down the costs involved:

1. **Cost of renting the scooter:** This is $7.50 per hour, so for \( x \) hours, the cost would be \( 7.50x \).
2. **Cost of renting the helmet:** This is a flat fee of $3.

Now, combine these two costs to form the total cost \( C \):

\[
C = 7.50x + 3
\]

So, the algebraic expression that describes the total cost in terms of hours \( x \) is:

\[
C = 7.50x + 3
\]