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Cellmate Communications offers two monthly cellular phone plans. The Standard plan costs \(\$ 15\) per month plus \(\$ 0.22\) per minute of air time. The Deluxe plan costs \(\$ 35\) per month plus \(\$ 0.14\) per minute of air time. (A) Write an equation for the monthly cost \(C\) of the Standard plan and the Deluxe plan for a month in which you use \(m\) minutes. (B) Sketch the graphs of the two equations obtained in part (a). Label the horizontal axis \(m\) and the vertical axis \(C\). (C) Using the graphs obtained in part (b), determine how many air time minutes per month make it more economical to buy the Standard plan.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The Standard plan is more economical for fewer than 250 minutes of air time per month.

Step by step solution

01

Formulate the Equation for the Standard Plan

The Standard plan costs a fixed monthly fee of \(15 plus \)0.22 per minute of air time. Therefore, the equation for the monthly cost, C, in terms of the number of minutes, m, is: \(C = 15 + 0.22m\)
02

Formulate the Equation for the Deluxe Plan

The Deluxe plan costs a fixed monthly fee of \(35 plus \)0.14 per minute of air time. Therefore, the equation for the monthly cost, C, in terms of the number of minutes, m, is: \(C = 35 + 0.14m\)
03

Sketch the Graphs of Both Plans

Plot the two equations on a graph with the horizontal axis representing the minutes, m, and the vertical axis representing the cost, C. The first line represents the Standard plan, and will start at \(15 on the vertical axis and rise with a slope of 0.22. The second line represents the Deluxe plan, starting at \)35 on the vertical axis with a slope of 0.14.
04

Determine the Intersection Point

To find the intersection point of the two lines, set the equations equal to each other: \(15 + 0.22m = 35 + 0.14m\)Solve for m by first isolating the terms with m: \(0.22m - 0.14m = 35 - 15\)\(0.08m = 20\)\(m = 250\)This means at 250 minutes, the cost for both plans will be equal.
05

Compare the Plans Based on the Intersection Point

For fewer than 250 minutes, the Standard plan will cost less since its variable cost per minute is higher but its fixed cost is lower. For more than 250 minutes, the Deluxe plan will cost less due to its lower per minute charge.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

linear equations
Linear equations are equations of the first order. They represent relationships with constant rates of change.
In our problem, we have two cellular phone plans, each with its equation. The Standard plan has the equation for total monthly cost: \[C = 15 + 0.22m\] where \(C\) stands for the total cost and \(m\) represents the number of minutes used.
For the Deluxe plan, the equation is: \[C = 35 + 0.14m\]
Both equations are linear because they have the form: \[y = mx + b\] where \(m\) is the rate per minute (slope) and \(b\) is the fixed monthly fee (y-intercept). Understanding linear equations is crucial to analyzing and comparing these costs effectively.
graphing cost functions
Graphing cost functions helps visualize the relationships between minutes used and total cost.
We need to plot the equations for each plan on a graph with the horizontal axis representing minutes (\(m\)) and the vertical axis representing cost (\(C\)).
  • For the Standard plan, our line starts at 15 on the vertical axis and rises with a slope of 0.22.
  • For the Deluxe plan, our line starts at 35 on the vertical axis and rises with a slope of 0.14.
By graphing these, we can see at which point the costs are equal and where one plan becomes more economical over the other.
This visual representation is a powerful tool for comparing linear relationships.
solving systems of equations
When comparing two plans, finding their intersection point helps determine the break-even point.
To find when both plans cost the same, we set their equations equal to each other:
\[15 + 0.22m = 35 + 0.14m\]
Solving this system involves isolating \(m\):\[0.22m - 0.14m = 35 - 15\]
\[0.08m = 20\]
\[m = 250\]
At 250 minutes, both plans cost the same. To decide which plan to choose, compare their costs based on usage:
  • For less than 250 minutes, the Standard plan is cheaper.
  • For more than 250 minutes, the Deluxe plan is cheaper.
Understanding this allows for better decision-making based on individual usage.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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