Question

Eli will photograph a wedding for a flat fee of ​$1560 or for an hourly rate of ​$180. For what lengths of time would the hourly rate be less​ expensive?

The hourly rate would be less expensive if the wedding was less than
? hours long.
​(Simplify your​ answer.)

Answer 1

The hourly rate is better between 1 and 8 hours.

Explanation:

There are two options

A fixed amount of $1560.

Or an hourly rate of $180 the hour.

So for the first option, the cost equation as a function of time, t, is:

f(t) = $1560

(it does not depend on t)

While for the second option, the equation would be:

g(t) = $180*t

First, we want to answer:

We can expect that for smaller values of t the second option is better but let's see that:

or what lengths of time would the hourly rate be less​ expensive?

Then we need to solve:

f(t) = g(t)

for t, this is:

$1560 = $180*t

$1560/$180 = t = 8.66

So, for t = 8.66, the cost is the same in both options.

For t < 8.66

(between 1 and 8 hours) the second option is better. (here the hourly rate is better)

for t > 8.66

(9 hours or more) is better the first option, as the hourly (here the flat fee is better)