Alebra question Detaiols below

Question

I don't even know how to start this problem.

 

Company A has a plan that costs $4 per month for up to 200 messages sent or received. Each additional message costs $0.17. Under this plan, how much would you pay if you send or receive 254 messages in one month?

Answer 1

Calculate how many messages more than 200 were sent/received.  Then take this number and multiply it times .17 since it costs $.17 for each message.  Then add the flat $4 that is always charged regardless of the number messages.  Can you do this?

Answer 2

Let's set up an equation for the company

 

Company A:  y = 4 + 0.17(x-200)

where x is the number of messages and you only pay the 17 cents for the messages in excess of 200

 

y = 4 + 0.17(254-200) 

y = 4 + 0.17(54)

y = 4 + 9.18

y = 13.18