Question

A​ long-distance telephone company charges a rate of 8 cents per minute or a 50​-cent minimum charge per completed​ call, whichever is greater. Find the​ cost, in cents per​ minute, for a 3​-minute call.

Answer 1

Cost of a 3 minute call is 50 cents at a rate of 16.67 cents per minute.

Explanation:

We are given the following in the question:

Plan A

A rate of 8 cents per minute.

Plan B

A 50​-cent minimum charge per completed​ call.

We have to find the​ cost, in cents per​ minute, for a 3​-minute call.

Cost according to plan A:

`\text{Cost per minute}* \text{Call length in minutes}\\= 8 * 3\\=24 \text{cents}`

Cost according to plan B:

50 cents for a 3 minute call

Rate =

`\displaystyle\frac{\text{Total cost}}{\text{Duration of call}} = (50)/(3) = 16.67 \text{ cents per minute}`

The company chooses the plan with greater cost, thus, it chooses plan B.

Thus, cost of a 3 minute call is 50 cents at a rate of 16.67 cents per minute.