Taxi cabs at the airport

Question

A taxi cab from an airport charges $16 plus $6 per mile for up to 4 passengers. The cost of the taxi cab is a function of the number of miles. Let c represent the function.

a. Identify the independent and dependent variables.

b. Let x represent the input variable. Use function notation to write the function in symbolic form.

Answer 1

Hello G K,

The statement "The cost of the taxi cab is a function of the number of miles" should help you answer part a.

The cost of the taxi cab is a function of the number of miles = the cost of the taxi cab DEPENDS on the number of miles. Therefore:

a. number of miles = independent variable; cost of the taxi cab = dependent variable

b. x = input variable, so x = number of miles.

c(x) = 16 + 6x

Why? You're told the cab charges $16 PLUS $6 per mile.