Final answer:
To find the number of hours when the cost for renting a bicycle is the same for both companies, we can set up an equation by considering the upfront fee and the per hour charge. By solving the equation, we can find the number of hours.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the number of hours when the cost for renting a bicycle is the same for both companies, we need to set up an equation.
Let x be the number of hours.
For the first company, the cost is given by $20 + $5.50x.
For the second company, the cost is given by $15 + $6.50x.
We can set up the equation:
$20 + $5.50x = $15 + $6.50x
By solving this equation, we can find the value of x, which will be the number of hours when the cost for renting a bicycle is the same.