2. Val rented a bicycle while she was on vacation. She paid a flat rental fee of \( \$ 55.00 \), plus \( \$ 8.50 \) each day. The total cost was \( \$ 123 \). Write an equation you can use to find the number of days she rented the bicycle. Variable: Coefficient: Constants:

To find the number of days Val rented the bicycle, you can use the equation \( 55 + 8.5d = 123 \), where \( d \) represents the number of days. Here, the flat rental fee of \( 55 \) is a constant, while the coefficient of \( d \) is \( 8.5 \), which signifies the daily rate. When crafting equations like this, it’s crucial to remember to account for all costs, both fixed and variable. A common mistake is to forget about the flat rental fee, which can lead to incorrect calculations and unexpected outcomes. Always double-check the constants and coefficients you use in your equations!