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Draglink

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Algebra: Cost of Owning a Car Problem

Number of dollars per month it costs you to own a car is a function of the number of kilometers per month you drive it. Based on information in an issue of Time magazine, the cost varies linearly with the distance, and is $366 per month for 300 KM per month, and $510 per month for 1,500 KM per month.

A. Write the particular equation expressing cost (c) in terms of distance (d).

B. Predict your monthly cost if you drive for 1,000 KM/month, then for 2,000 KM/month.

C. How far could you drive without exceeding a monthly cost of $600?

D. Find the cost-rate intercept. What does it tell you about the real world?

E. Calculate the distance-intercept. What does this number represent in the real world?

F. Plot the graph of this linear function. Use a suitable domain and label the horizontal and vertical axis.

THANK YOU!!!

Bob

Administrator

Registered: 2010-06-20

Posts: 10,640

Re: Algebra: Cost of Owning a Car Problem

hi Draglink,

Welcome to the forum.

Have a look here for information on equations of straight lines:

http://www.mathsisfun.com/equation_of_line.html

the cost varies linearly with the distance

So there is a formula connecting cost and distance that looks like this:

You can substitute the given values to determine the constants b and m and then the rest should fall into place.

Bob

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Sometimes I deliberately make mistakes, just to test you!  …………….Bob