Question

Aisha is going to ship some gifts to family members, and she is considering two shipping companies. The first shipping company charges a fee of $10 to ship a medium box, plus an additional $7 per kilogram. A second shipping company charges $15 for the same size of the box, plus an additional $6 per kilogram. At a certain weight, the two shipping methods will cost the same amount. What is that weight? How much will it cost?

Answer 1

Answer Step-by-step explanation:

Word (story) problems are easy if you use a table to translate the words to precise, concise math variables and operations. For example,

Is means =

Larger than +

Four times a 4*a

F is 550 less than S F = S – 550

Total of A, B, C A + B + C

This seems obvious – until you get stuck on a word problem. So,

“the first company” , “a second company” becomes Let their costs be F and S

Let K be the number of kilograms

“$20 to ship a medium box, plus an additional $2 per kilogram” F = $20 + 2*K

“10 for the same size of box, plus an additional $3 per kilogram” S = $10 + 3*K

“the two shipping methods will cost the same amount” F = S

“What is that weight?” report K

Now, the math:

F = S

20 + 2K = 10 + 3K

$10 = K