Final answer:
To find out how long the fence needs to be so that the total cost is the same for either company, we can set up an equation and solve for the length of the fence.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find out how long the fence needs to be so that the total cost is the same for either company, we need to set up an equation. Let's say the length of the fence is x feet. The total cost for the first company would be 20x + 210 dollars, and the total cost for the second company would be 27.50x dollars since there is no installation fee. Set these two expressions equal to each other: 20x + 210 = 27.50x. Now, we can solve for x.
First, subtract 20x from both sides to get 210 = 7.50x. Then, divide both sides by 7.50 to isolate x. This gives us x = 28. Therefore, the fence would need to be 28 feet long for the total cost to be the same for either company.
Learn more about Solving equations with variables on both sides