A cab company charges a flat rate of $2 plus an additional $0.50 for every mile traveled. Her cost was 7.50. Write an equation for the situation and then solve.

Answer 1

Whenever you're trying to answer a word problem, read it through and see where you can change words to mathematical symbols. In this case, the flat rate is 2. The mileage would be 0.5m, or 50 cents times every mile driven. You solution is 7.5 for the total amount paid. So, 2 + .5m = 7.5 (flat rate plus amount per mile times the number of miles equals the total amount).

2 + .5m = 7.5

To solve, you first want to get all the regular numbers on one side, so subtract 2 from both sides.

.5m = 7.5 - 2

.5m = 5.5

Now you want to get the m completely by itself. Since it's multiplied by .5, you divide both sides by .5.

m = 11.

So the number of miles driven is 11 miles.

Answer 2

Let C represent the total cost for a trip and m represent the miles.

C = $2.00 + $0.50m is the equation for the general case.

$7.50 = $2.00 + $0.50m

.5m = 5.5

m = 11 miles