A piecewise function is a function that behaves differently in different intervals of its domain.
The answers are:
a)
f(x) = x*$2.00 if 0 ≤ x ≤ 100
f(x) = x*$1.75 if 100 < x ≤ 250
f(x) = x*$1.25 if x > 250.
b) $306.25
The given information is:
The first 100 cupcakes cost $2.00 each.
If the order is between 100 and 250 cupcakes, the cost is $1.75 each.
If the order is more than 250 cupcakes, the cost is $1.25 each.
a) Now we want to write the piecewise function, this will be:
f(x) = x*$2.00 if 0 ≤ x ≤ 100
f(x) = x*$1.75 if 100 < x ≤ 250
f(x) = x*$1.25 if x > 250.
Above you can see the piecewise function, when you want to evaluate it, the first thing you need to do is to find at which interval the input belongs.
b) If you order 175 cupcakes you have x = 175.
This belongs to the second interval ( 100 < x ≤ 250) then we will use the second part of the function:
f(175) = 175*$1.75 = $306.25
If you want to learn more, you can read:
brainly.com/question/12561612