Final answer:
The minimum number of checks Ezra needs to write for the first bank to be a better option is 40.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the minimum number of checks Ezra needs to write for the first bank to be a better option, we need to compare the total cost for each checking account.
For the first bank, the total cost is the sum of the monthly fee and the per check fee multiplied by the number of checks written. So the equation is: Total cost = 8 + 0.20x, where x is the number of checks written.
For the second bank, the equation is: Total cost = 6 + 0.25x.
To find the minimum number of checks, we set the total costs equal to each other and solve for x:
8 + 0.20x = 6 + 0.25x
0.05x = 2
x = 40
Therefore, Ezra needs to write at least 40 checks for the first bank to be a better option.