Suppose that in [tex]t[/tex] months, the money you have saved, [tex]S[/tex], is given by the equation [tex]S = 145t + 85[/tex]. What do the numbers in the equation represent?

A. 145 means you started with \$145 and 85 means that you save \$85 per month.
B. 145 means that it will take you 145 months to save \$85.
C. 85 means you started with \$85 and 145 means that you save \$145 per month.
D. 85 means that it will take you 85 months to save \$145.

Sure! Let's break down the equation [tex]$ S = 145t + 85 $[/tex] and understand what each number in the equation represents.

The equation [tex]$ S = 145t + 85 $[/tex] describes the amount of money [tex]$ S $[/tex] you have saved after [tex]$ t $[/tex] months.

1. Initial Amount (when [tex]$ t = 0 $[/tex]):
- When you start ([tex]$ t = 0 $[/tex]), the equation simplifies to [tex]$ S = 145(0) + 85 $[/tex].
- This equals [tex]$ S = 85 $[/tex].
- So, the number 85 represents the initial amount of money you have saved at the beginning.

2. Monthly Savings:
- The part of the equation [tex]$ 145t $[/tex] represents the amount of money added each month.
- For each month [tex]$ t $[/tex], you save [tex]$ \$145 $[/tex].
- Therefore, the number 145 represents the amount of money you save each month.

Putting it all together:
- The initial amount of money saved at the start is [tex]$ \$85 $[/tex].
- You save an additional [tex]$ \$145 $[/tex] each month.

So, the correct interpretation is:
"85 means you started with \[tex]$85 and 145 means that you save \$[/tex]145 per month."