A business owner buys lunch for employees once every month. The owner has bought lunch for 18

employees for the last three months and the total costs are shown

First month: $147.98

Second month: $152.17

Third month: $165.63

Write an equation that can be used to estimate y, the average monthly cost, in dollars, to buy lunch

for x employees.

Use your equation to estimate the total cost of a monthly lunch for 26 employees. Show your work or

explain your response.

A) y = 8.63 x

B) $224.38

Step-by-step explanation:

The the average monthly cost = (147.98+152.17+165.63) / 3 = $155.26

So, For 18 employees the average monthly cost = $155.26

Let the equation that can be used to estimate y, the average monthly cost, in dollars, to buy lunch for x employees. ⇒ y = mx

For x = 18, y = $155.26

So, m = y/x = $155.26/18 ≈ $8.63

∴ y = 8.63 x

To find the total cost for 26 employees.

∴ x = 26

∴ y = 8.63 * 26 = 224.38

The total cost of a monthly lunch for 26 employees = $224.38