Question

A taxi charges $20 flat fee for the first 5 miles (even if it takes the rider one mile the cost is $20) and after that the additional miles cost $1.20 per mile. A trip that covers 7 miles will cost $22.40. Write a piecewise function for the cost of a cab ride assuming the miles will be whole numbers.

Answer 1

Ok so, we have the fact that 1.20 per mile Lets represent m as each additional mile so we have 1.20m which is That much per additional mile So For the first 5 functions we have f(1) = 20 f(2) = 20 f(3) = 20 f(4) = 20 f(5) = 20 Only for the first 5 miles though, since it is a flat fee. So for the additional miles we go back to what I said in the first Paragraph. 1.20m That is for additional miles, so that will be added to 20 So if you travel more than 5 miles the function looks like this: f(x) = 20 + 1.20m So the first 5 miles it is: f(x) = 20 For 7 mles the function would look like: f(7) = 20 + 1.20(2) It is a 2 because it is the additional mile, which is 2  hope this helps