The "Efficient Car" Problem (Analyzing a System of Linear Equations)

Question

Car A: a particular brand of car with a normal engine costs $15,000 to purchase and then $.50 per mile to drive.

Car B: The hybrid coss $25,000 to purchase but only $.20 per mile to drive.

For each of the cars described above, write a linear equation in y=mx+b form use the following guidelines

-let y be the variable that represents the cost of owning each car (both purchasing and driving the car)

-let x be the variable that represents the miles that each car has been driven

-both m and b are not left as variables but are filled in with numbers. You must determine what a data above should act as the y-intercept (a constant) as you write each car's linear equation

Answer 1

1st car : y = 15000 + 0.5x

2nd car: y = 25000 + 0.2x

incidentally, they will cost the same after 33333 and 1/3 miles, and the cost

shall be 31666 and 2/3