write an equation for both companies. and define the variables.

Question

two rental car companies are offering weekend specials. Company A says you can rent a car for $40 plus 6 cents for every mile you drive it. Company B says you can rent a car for a flat rate of $70 and only 2 cents per mile.

Answer 1

Kennedy, defining the variables just means telling what your variable represents.

 

Let's look at the first company.  If you drove 150 miles, how much would it cost? You'd be charged $40 plus 6 cents for each mile.

 

.06 x 150 = 9.00, so your total charge would be $49.

 

How do we write an equation representing that? If we say that m = the number of miles and T = our total charge (defining our variables), then our charge for miles is .06 x m, written .06m. We need to add the $40. 

 

If you were to write this, you'd probably say 40 + .06m = T.  In math, though, you want your answer on the left, then anything with variables, so our equation is T = .06m + 40.

 

Can you do the second one yourself?