Answer:
16 tons, $9108
Step-by-step explanation:
Let's set up our equation. I can already tell you that each of these are linear equations. A linear equation can be set up with y=mx+b (slope-intercept form).
This will be helpful since the problem is telling you the slope (m) and the constant (b). b is also known as the y-intercept.
The problem says the first company charges $7500 to rent trucks plus an additional fee of $100.50 <u>for each</u> ton of sugar.
When you see the words, for each, per, for every, etc; that will be your slope (m). The $7500 is our constant (b).
Now to construct our equation for the first company it will be this:
y=100.50x+7500
Apply the same thing for the second company, $6296 to rent trucks plus $175.75 for each ton of sugar:
y = 175.75x+6296
Now that you have the equations of both companies, the problem is asking you for two things:
- When will the companies have the same cost (x)
- What the cost will be when the cost is the same (y)
But to this, we need some formula right? You could do this via looking on a graph but it may be hard if you don't have the appropriate technology. However, we <em>just so happen to remember </em>that we can set these equations together to find what value of x will both equations be the same.
Set the equations equal to each other:
And solve for x
When using this equation, this means that when x is 16, both equations will equal each other. We have solved the first question.
Now to solve for y, we replace x with the number we found, 16. You can choose any equation since they both will be the same at x = 16.
y=175.75(16) + 6296 = 9108
The cost will be $9108 when both companies cost the same amount.