Algebra word problem

Question

Suppose you have decided to open your own at home business. Your business involves providing physical products to your customers. Before you open for business, you need to first find a shipping company to use. You have narrowed your search down to two shipping companies.

• Hasty Punctual Dispatch charges a base rate of $3 plus $2.5 per pound of the package(s) shipped.

• Nimble Trustworthy Transport charges a base rate of $5 plus $1.50 per pound of the package(s) shipped.

Write an equation to represent the cost for each shipping company. Clearly identify your variable.

Answer 1

If TC is the total shipping cost and W is the weight shipped:

Hasty Punctual: TC = 3 + 2.5 * W

Nimble Trustworthy: TC = 5 + 1.5* W

As a brain teaser; What shipping weight results in the same cost if we use either company? How much does it cost in total to ship that weight?!