Question

Felix's Parcel Movers charges $4.00 for the first pound and 35 cents for each additional pound. Marlon's Postal Services charges $7.00 for the first pound and 20 cents for each additional pound. How many pounds must send in order for the costs to be the same?

A. 22 pounds
B. 19 pounds
C. 18 pounds
D. 20 pounds

Answer 1

The costs will be the same when 19 pounds are sent, which is achieved by setting up an equation and solving for the number of pounds. Option B is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find out how many pounds must be sent for the costs to be the same at Felix's Parcel Movers and Marlon's Postal Services, we set up an equation where the cost for shipping at both companies is equal. The cost to ship a package at Felix's Parcel Movers is represented as $4.00 + $0.35(p-1), and for Marlon's Postal Services, it's $7.00 + $0.20(p-1), where p represents the number of pounds.

We set the two cost expressions equal to each other:

$4.00 + $0.35(p-1) = $7.00 + $0.20(p-1)

Simplify and solve for p:

1. Subtract $4.00 from both sides: $0.35(p-1) = $3.00 + $0.20(p-1)
2. Expand both sides: $0.35p - $0.35 = $3.00 + $0.20p - $0.20
3. Combine like terms: $0.35p - $0.20p = $3.00 - $0.35 + $0.20
4. Calculate: $0.15p = $2.85
5. Divide both sides by $0.15 to solve for p: p = 19 pounds

Therefore, the costs will be the same when 19 pounds are sent, which corresponds to option B.