Question

I need to know how to solve part b please!

Answer 1

Xavier spent $84 on supplies (so this is an expense we will make only once), and then he will spend one more dollar for each canvas. So, his total expense for $p$ paintings will be

$84+p$

Similarly, he will get 8 dollars for each painting, so he will earn

$8p$

dollars if he will sell $p$ paintings.

In order to break even, earnings and costs must be equal:

$84+p=8p$

Subtract p from both sides:

$84=7p$

Divide both sides by 7:

$12=p$

So, he has to sell at least 12 paintings to break even.