Question

A rental car company charges a flat fee and a cost per kilometer driven. One customer drove 250 kilometers and paid $56.50. Another customer drove 400 kilometers and paid $79.00. What is the $/km rate of change that the company is charging?

Answer 1

The rental car company is charging $0.15 per kilometer driven, which is calculated by setting up equations based on the information provided and solving for the rate of change.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the rate of change ($/km) that the rental car company is charging, we can set up two equations based on the information given:

• For the first customer: Flat fee + (250 km × $/km rate) = $56.50
• For the second customer: Flat fee + (400 km × $/km rate) = $79.00

Let 'F' represent the flat fee and 'R' represent the $/km rate. Our two equations become:

• F + 250R = 56.50
• F + 400R = 79.00

By subtracting the first equation from the second, we eliminate 'F' and can solve for 'R':

(F + 400R) - (F + 250R) = 79.00 - 56.50

150R = 22.50

R = 22.50 / 150

R = $0.15 per kilometer

So, the company is charging $0.15 per kilometer driven.