math word problem... need help!!!!

Question

a school had to buy 16 new science books and it ended up costing 305.92 total. write an equation that can be used to express the relationship between the total cost(t) and the number of books(b) purchased.

Answer 1

Let b = number of books purchased

Let t = total cost

 

 

The total cost depends on the number of books purchased.  This makes b the independent variable and t the dependent variable.

 

Let's find out how much it will cost to purchase only one book. Divide the given cost by the given number of books.

 

305.92 / 16 = 19.12

 

This means one science book cost $19.12

 

Use these values as coordinates. Coordinate 1 is (1, 19.12) and coordinate 2 is

(16, 305.92).  Use the points to find the equation.

 

 

t = (19.12)b