To determine the meaning of the slope in the given linear function \( c(x) = 3x + 4.00 \), we need to understand the components of the equation:
1. The equation is in the form \( c(x) = mx + b \), where \( m \) is the slope and \( b \) is the y-intercept.
2. In this context:
- \( c(x) \) represents the total cost of parking,
- \( x \) is the number of hours parked,
- The slope (\( m \)) is \( 3 \), and
- The y-intercept (\( b \)) is \( 4.00 \).
The slope of a linear equation, in this case \( 3 \), indicates how much the dependent variable (cost) changes with respect to a one-unit change in the independent variable (hours parked).
So, the interpretation of the slope \( 3 \) is:
- For each additional hour parked, the cost increases by \$3.00.
Thus, the slope indicates the rate at which the parking cost increases per hour. Therefore, the correct interpretation of the slope \( 3 \) is:
A. The rate of change of the cost of parking in the lot is $ 3.00 per hour.
