To represent the total cost \( C \) for \( p \) pounds of cheese, where each pound costs $4.02, you can write the function rule as follows:
\[ C(p) = 4.02p \]
In this rule:
- \( C \) represents the total cost.
- \( p \) represents the number of pounds of cheese.
- The coefficient \( 4.02 \) represents the cost per pound of cheese.
So, as you increase \( p \), the total cost \( C \) will increase proportionally based on the price per pound.