Question

Casey wants to buy a gym membership. One gym has a $248 joining fee and costs $27 per month. Another gym has no joining fee and costs $58 per month. In how many months will both gym memberships cost the same? What will that cost be?

Answer 1

In 8 months both gym memberships will cost the same and that cost will be $464

Explanation:

Linear Models

To compare two gym memberships, we can help Casey to form one model for each gym.

One of them charges a $248 joining fee plus $27 per month. The model for this gym is:

G1 = 27m + 248

Where m is the number of months.

The other gym has no joining fee but charges $58 per month. It's model is:

G2 = 58m

The number of months where both gyms end up charging the same can be found by equating G1 = G2, or equivalently:

27m + 248 = 58m

Subtracting 27m and swapping the equation:

58m - 27m = 248

Simplifying:

31m = 248

Solving:

m = 248/31

m = 8

When m=8, both gyms charge the same:

G1 =27*8 + 248= $464

G2 = 58*8 = $464

Thus, in 8 months both gym memberships will cost the same and that cost will be $464