Question

Bella has a cell phone plan in which she pays for each call minute and text message she sends. The total number of minutes used and text messages sent last month was 561. If call minutes cost 8each and text messages cost 5¢ each and her bill was $34.26, how many minutes did she use?

Answer 1

Given:

Total number of minutes and text message sent = 561

Cost of each call minute = 8¢

Cost of each text message = 5¢

Total bill = $34.26 ==> Convert to cents = 34.26 * 100 = 3426 cents

Let x represent the number of call minutes

Let y represent the number of text messages

represent the number

From the situtaion, we have the set of equations:

x + y = 561....................................equation 1

8x + 5y = 3426...........................equation 2

Let's solve for x and y using substitution method.

Rewrite equation one for y:

x + y = 561

y = 561 - x

Substitute (561 - x) for y in equation 2:

8x + 5(561 - x) = 3426

8x + 2805 - 5x = 3426

Combine like terms:

8x - 5x + 2805 = 3426

3x + 2805 = 3426

Subtract 2805 from both sides:

3x + 2805 - 2805 = 3426 - 2805

3x = 621

Divide both sides by 3:

`\begin{gathered} (3x)/(3)=(621)/(3) \\ \\ x=207 \end{gathered}`

Therefore, Bella used 207 call minutes last month.

ANSWER:

207 minutes