Question

Three friends rented a car for a week and divided the cost equally. What was the total cost of renting the car ?

(1) If the three friends had kept the car for a second week, they could have obtained the two-week rate, which was 1.5 times the cost of a one-week rental.
(2) If a fourth friend had joined the three friends and the cost had been divided equally among the four friends, the cost to each of the original three would have been reduced by $15

Answer 1

The cost would be $ 180.

Explanation:

(1) Let x be the cost( in dollars ) for one week if three friends are kept in the car,

Since,

two-week rate = 1.5 × one week rate.

Thus, data is insufficient to find the total cost of renting the car,

(2) Since, total cost = x,

If number of friends = 3,

Then the cost paid by each friend =
`(x)/(3)` dollars,

If number of friends = 4,

Then the cost paid by each friend =
`(x)/(4)` dollars,

According to the statement (2),

`(x)/(3)-(x)/(4)=15`

`(4x-3x)/(12)=15`

`(x)/(12)=15`

`\implies x = 12* 15 = 180`

Hence, the total cost of renting the car would be $ 180.