Question

In 2006, the cost to mail a first-class letter was $0.39 for the first ounce and $0.24 for each additional ounce up to 13 ounces. So people who mailed many letters would buy many $0.39 and $0.24 stamps. If you buy x $0.39 stamps and y $0.24 stamps, then the postage you have paid for is 0.39x + 0.24y. For example, if you use one $0.39 stamp and three $0.24 stamps for a letter, you have paid a total of 1($0.39) + 3($0.24) = $1.11 for postage. Which weights can be sent first class for less than $3 using these stamps?

Answer 1

To determine the weights that can be sent first class for less than $3 using $0.39 and $0.24 stamps, find the maximum values of x and y that satisfy the inequality 0.39x + 0.24y < 3.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the weights that can be sent first class for less than $3 using these stamps, we need to find the values of x and y that satisfy the inequality 0.39x + 0.24y < 3.

Let's start by finding the maximum value of x that satisfies the inequality. If we use only $0.39 stamps, the maximum number of stamps we can buy for less than $3 is 7, because 0.39 * 7 = 2.73. Therefore, x can be any value between 0 and 7 inclusive.

Now let's find the maximum value of y that satisfies the inequality. If we use only $0.24 stamps, the maximum number of stamps we can buy for less than $3 is 5, because 0.24 * 5 = 1.2. Therefore, y can be any value between 0 and 5 inclusive.

Combining the maximum values of x and y, we can determine the weights that can be sent first class for less than $3 using these stamps:

• 0 ounces to 7 ounces with only $0.39 stamps
• 0 ounces to 5 ounces with only $0.24 stamps
• 0 ounces to 7 ounces with a combination of $0.39 and $0.24 stamps