Question

Alex and his father took a taxi cab that charges $2.60 per mile plus $3.00 for the two passengers, and they paid a total of $18.60. Alex wrote the equation 18.60=2.60b+3.00 for this situation and found b=6, where b represents the number of miles the taxi traveled.

How could Alex correctly solve this problem without using the equation?

A He can find the total number of miles by dividing the total cost, $18.60, by $2.60.Then, he could subtract $3.00 from the quotient.

B He can find the total number of miles by dividing the total cost, $18.60,by $2.60.Then, he could add $3.00 to the quotient.

C He can find the total number of miles by adding $3.00 from the total cost, $18.60.Then, he could divide the sum by $2.60.

D He can find the total number of miles by subtracting $3.00 from the total cost, $18.60. Then, he could divide the difference by $2.60.

Answer 1

The answer here would be D. In choice A, this would be incorrect because he would divide the millage cost before the passenger fee. In choice B, this would be incorrect because he would add the passenger fee, when it is required to subtract it. Choice C would be incorrect, because yet again, you are not supposed to add the passenger fee. This leaves choice D, which is correct.