Financial lit help

Question

Samantha budgets $480.00 per month for transportation. She has determined that the cost of a round trip train ride is $4 and the cost of each round trip car ride (factoring in gas oil, oil, etc) is 3. Express this situation algebraically.

Answer 1

Whenever you see the word "algebraically," your mind should think "variables."

 

She only can spend $480, so the total costs will equal $480.

Each train ride is $4, but the number of train rides each month could vary.

Each car ride is $3, but he number of car rides each month could vary.

 

So, 4t + 3c = 480 where t is train rides and c is car rides.

 

Or, you could write 4x +3y = 480 where x is train rides and y is car rides.  Whatever makes more sense to you!