Big Ideas Math Algebra 1, 2015
BI
Big Ideas Math Algebra 1, 2015 View details
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Exercise 15 Page 194

Practice makes perfect
a Let's assume x is the number of months and y is the total cost. Since the total cost changes at a constant rate with respect to the number of months, the equation given below will help us to write a linear equation.

y= mx+ b The value of m is the constant rate of change and b is the initial or starting value of y. According to the given information, the constant rate of change is $44 and the initial value is $48. Let's substitute this information into the equation. y= 44x+ 48

b If we want to set up a website and maintain it for 6 months, we can find the total cost by substituting 6 for x into the equation that we wrote in Part A. Let's do it!
y=44x+48
y=44( 6)+48
y=264+48
y=312
As a result, the total cost is $312.
c In this part, we have new information about a different company. This company charges $62 per month to maintain a website, but there is no initial fee. Let's write an equation of the total cost for this company.
y= 62xIf we have $620, let's determine at which company we can set up and maintain a website for the greatest amount of time. We will start with the first company.
y=44x+48
620=44x+48
572=44x
13=x
x=13
For the first company, we can maintain a website for 13 months. Next, we will find the number of months for the second company.
y=62x
620=62x
10=x
x=10
We can see that 10 months is the maximum time for us to maintain a website at the second company if we have $620. Therefore, the first company would be a better option for us.