Question

A moving company charges a flat rate of $180, and an additional $5 for each box. If a taxi service would charge $15 for each box, what is the minimum number of boxes you would need for it to be cheaper to use the moving company?What would the total cost be?

Answer 1

Moving Company = 180 + 5n (n = the number of boxes)

The "break even" point is when these are the same.

180 + 5n = 15n

=> 180 = 15n - 5n

=> 180 = 10n

=> n = 18

So with 18 boxes, it costs the same ($270) either way.

with 19, the Moving Company costs = 275

with 19, the taxi would cost = 285

Cheaper to use the moving company with 19 or more boxes.