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im trying to set up an equation properly.

I am trying to solve for miles traveled. I am unsure I have written the equation(?) (expression) correctly.

if a taxi costs $5 plus .070 per mile and tolls cost an additional 3.50 how far can you travel on 36.50 dollars.

I thought it would be:x+5.00+.70+3.50=36.50 is this the correct way to do it?

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4 Answers

In the problem you wrote said that the taxi charges $0.070 per mile(which would be 7 cents per mile), but then in your suggested equation you have it as $0.70 per mile (which is 70 cents per mile).

The latter seems more realistic, so I will assume that the taxi costs $5.00 and charges $0.70 per mile with tolls costing an additional $3.50. And it asks you to find how far you can travel on $36.50.

Let x the number of miles traveled. Since the taxi charges $0.70 per mile, multiplying this by the miles traveled (x) will yield the cost of the taxi ride as far as how far it took you. Then adding this amount to the cost of the taxi ($5.00) and the additional cost for the tolls ($3.50) will give you the total cost of the taxi ride ($36.50)

That is,

            (0.70)x + 5.00 + 3.50 = 36.50

Adding the like terms on the left-hand side of this equation, we arrive at the following:

            (0.70)x + 8.50 = 36.50

Subtracting 8.50 from both sides of the equation, we get:

            (0.70)x = 28.00

To solve for x, divide both sides of the equation above by the coefficient of x (that being, 0.70):

             x = 40

Thus, you can travel up to 40 miles on $36.50

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Clifford that equation is so close, you pretty much have the basics down.

In the question you said .07/mile, but in the answer you gave .70, so I'll go with .70 and you put whichever one is right in your answer.

You have 36.50, so it would be 36.50=, you have that part right.

Also on the other side of the equation should be 5.00+3.50, you also have that.

The only problem is with the per mile. It costs a certain amount per mile, which we're going to call x the number of miles, so you need to MULTIPLY x by the cost, so .70x and add that to the total.

So, the equation would be:

36.50=5.00+3.50+0.70x

And if you wanted you could simplify by adding 5.00+3.50=8.50

36.50=8.50+0.70x

 

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