word problem

Question

An SUV costs $27,825 and costs an average of $0.18 per mile to maintain. A hybrid model of the SUV costs $33,465 and costs an average of $0.13 per mile to maintain. After how many miles will the cost of the gas-only SUV exceed the cost of the hybrid?

Answer 1

Hi Eryn,

 

I believe this problem deals with inequalities let's assign the variable X for the average cost per mile to maintain an SUV.

 

Total cost of maintenance for a gas only SUV

 

 

27,825 + 0.18x

 

 

We do the same for an hybrid and the equation we come up with is 

 

33,465 + 0.13x

 

Now we come up with an inequality which would be as follows

 

27,825 + 0.18x > 33,465 + 0.13x

 

0.05x > 5640

 

x > 112,800

 

After 112,800 miles the cost of the gas only suv would exceed that of the hybrid.