Answer: The required system of equations representing the given situation is
[tex]y=1+0.5x\\\\y=3+0.25x[/tex]
Step-by-step explanation: Given that Sam needs to make a long-distance call from a pay phone.
We are to write a system to represent the situation.
Let x represent the number of minutes Sam talked on the phone and y represents the total amount that he paid for the call.
According to the given information,
with prepaid phone card, Sam will be charged $1.00 to connect and $0.50 per minute.
So, the equation representing this situation is
[tex]y=1+0.5x~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(i)[/tex]
Also, if Sam places a collect call with the operator he will be charged $3.00 to connect and $0.25 per minute.
So, the equation representing this situation is
[tex]y=3+0.25x~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(ii)[/tex]
Thus, the required system of equations representing the given situation is
[tex]y=1+0.5x\\\\y=3+0.25x[/tex]