Question

A car costs $3,500 and costs $4 in gas to drive fifteen miles. If another car costs $4,500 but only need $2 in gas to drive fifteen miles, after how many miles of driving would be the total cost of driving both cars be equal?

Answer 1

500 miles

Explanation:

Step one:

A car costs $3,500 and costs $4 in gas to drive fifteen miles

let the total cost be y and let the number of miles be x

y= 3500+4x-----------1

If another car costs $4,500 but only need $2 in gas to drive fifteen miles,

let the total cost be y and let the number of miles be x

y= 4500+2x----------------2

Step two:

Equate the two expressions for the total cost

3500+4x=4500+2x

solve for x

4x-2x=4500-3500

2x= 1000

divide both sides by 2

x= 1000/2

x= 500 miles