To understand what [tex]\( x \)[/tex] represents in the given equations, let's break down each of the salary options provided:
1. First Salary Option:
[tex]\[
y = 9x + 50
\][/tex]
- In this equation, [tex]\( y \)[/tex] is the total weekly earnings.
- Jeremiah earns [tex]\( \$9 \)[/tex] per hour.
- He also receives a [tex]\( \$50 \)[/tex] weekly bonus for opening the store.
- Therefore, [tex]\( 9x \)[/tex] represents the earnings from working for [tex]\( x \)[/tex] hours at [tex]\( \$9 \)[/tex] per hour.
2. Second Salary Option:
[tex]\[
y = 10x
\][/tex]
- In this equation, [tex]\( y \)[/tex] is again the total weekly earnings.
- Jeremiah earns [tex]\( \$10 \)[/tex] per hour.
- Here, [tex]\( 10x \)[/tex] represents the earnings from working for [tex]\( x \)[/tex] hours at [tex]\( \$10 \)[/tex] per hour, with no additional bonus.
Since [tex]\( y \)[/tex] in both equations represents the total amount earned each week, and [tex]\( x \)[/tex] is the variable being multiplied by the hourly rate (either [tex]\( 9 \)[/tex] or [tex]\( 10 \)[/tex]), [tex]\( x \)[/tex] clearly represents the number of hours worked per week.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
- The number of hours worked per week.
