write a linear equation

Question

Steven had to rent a truck for moving. The first time he rented the truck he drove 30 miles, and it cost him $56.50. The second time he rented a truck from the same company he drove 65 miles and it cost him $75.75. Let y be the total cost to rent the truck, and x be the number of miles the truck is driven.

Using the information given, write a linear equation that models the total cost y to rent a truck in terms of miles x. Using your equation, determine the cost to rent a truck and drive it for 150 miles. Be sure to answer the question and to clearly indicate how you arrived at that answer. Show your work! (*Even if using a calculator, show how and why you took the steps you did, not just what buttons you pushed.)

Answer 1

You want your equation to end up looking like: y=mx + b.

You start off with two equations: 56.50 = 30b and 75.75 = 65x. You can add those two equations together to get 132.25 = 95x.

Now you can solve for x by dividing both sides by 95. That will tell you how much it costs to drive 1 mile.

Multiply that answer by 150 to find out how much it costs for 150 miles.