Question

You are shipping a box that weighs 5 pounds. Shipping charges are listed by ounces at the local mail center. The first ounce costs you $0.35 plus an additional $0.10 for every ounce (or part of an ounce) over the first ounce. What is the cost to ship the package in dollars and cents?

Answer 1

You can use the equation y=.1(x-1)+.35 to solve, where y is the cost in dollars and cents and x is the total number of boxes.

Y=.1(5-1)+.35
Y=.1(4)+.35
Y=.4+.35
Y=.75

The cost to ship is $0.75

Answer 2

Remember that 1 lb = 16 oz.  Thus, 5 lb = 80 oz.

The first oz costs $0.35 and the remaining (80-1) oz, or 79 oz, costs ($0.10/oz)(79 oz).  This comes to $0.35 + $7.90, or $8.25.

The shipping cost for this package will be $8.25.