Arithmetic sequences have a common difference between consecutive terms.
Geometric sequences have a common ratio between consecutive terms.
Let's compute the differences and ratios between consecutive terms:
Differences:
Ratios:
So, as you can see, the differences between consecutive terms are constant, whereas ratios vary.
So, this is an arithmetic sequence.
x = number of messages sent or received
y = total cost per month
Plan A costs $30 per month plus $0.10 per text message. So the cost for plan A is y = 0.10*x + 30. The portion 0.10*x represents just the cost of the 10 cents per message, and then we add on the fixed cost of $30 to get the total cost.
In a similar fashion, plan B's cost is y = 60. There is no cost per message, so we don't have to include x in the picture. The cost is a flat fee, which leads to a flat horizontal line graph (as shown in the attachment below)
Our two equations are: y = 0.10x+30 and y = 60. Let's use substitution to find x
y = 0.10x + 30
60 = 0.10x + 30 ... replace y with 60 (works because y = 60)
60-30 = 0.10x
30 = 0.10x
0.10x = 30
x = 30/0.10
x = 300
If you send or receive 300 messages, then both plans will cost the same. We can see this on the graph below where the two lines cross at (300,60). Note how plugging x = 300 into the first equation simplifies to y = 60.
