Josh K.

asked • 07/23/17

SAT Math Word Problem

A shipping company needs to transport 25 containers. The company has a fleet of five trucks, and each truck can make the trip to the destination in two days. Each truck averages 10 mpg, and the cost of diesel fuel is $2.50/gallon. Once the last container is delivered, trucks stay at their destination until dispatched to their next job.
 
What is the fuel cost associated with the job, to the nearest dollar, if the distance to the destination is 250 miles?

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Mark M. answered • 07/23/17

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Assuming only one truck is needed (nothing is said to the contrary), the cost is (250/10)($2.50) = $62.50.
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Josh K.

I had a similar assumption, I assumed that only one trip was necessary for all five trucks to work together and deliver the 25 containers, thus the cost will be (62.5 * 5). But apparently according to the answer sheet, the answer should be $2813. Is it safe to say it's a problem from their end? The creator of this question?
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07/23/17

Mark M.

It is safe to say that writers of problems are not infallible!
To my thinking (about SAT style question) is that since this has extraneous information it tests whether the reader can rapidly identify the relevant data.
 
Even considering that each truck is a "container truck," i.e." carries only one container, value would be (5)(250)(0.1)(2.50), or $312.50!
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07/23/17

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