Can someone PLEASE help me with my problem? I would really appreciate it, thank you in advance.

Question

anonymous · Answer

The cost of driving a car includes both fixed costs and milage costs. Assue that it costs $161.10 per month for insurance and car payments and $0.45 per mile for gasoline, oil, and routine maintenance. 

(a) Find values for m and b so that y=mx + b models the monthly cost of driving the car x miles. 
(b) What does the value of b represent?

radar · Answer

y=.45x+161.10
m represents the "per mile" cost, x represents the number of miles
b represents the fixed costs, i.e when x=0, b= $161.10

radar · Answer

* when x = 0, then y also equals $161.10

anonymous · Answer

@radar so what does m represent? .45?

radar · Answer

$$m=\Delta y/\Delta x$$

radar · Answer

Yes, m=.45

anonymous · Answer

ok thank you.