Question

Alan flew home from vacation with a heavy bag. With the first airline he flew, Alan had to pay $32 to check his bag, plus $6 for every pound that his bag was over the weight limit. The next flight was with another airline that had the same weight limit. Alan had to pay $8 per pound that his bag was over the weight limit, in addition to the checked bag fee of $16. By coincidence, the fees ended up being the same with both airlines. How far over the weight limit was the bag? How large was each airline's fee?

Answer 1

let x = the amount over the weight limit

We will have:

32 + 6x = 8x + 16

Now we solve for x, as follows:

32 - 16 = 8x - 6x

16 = 2x

x = 8.

then overweight found to be 8 pounds.

And both airline fee:

32 + 6(8) = $80

8(8) + 16 = $80