Use the five steps for problem solving to answer the following question. Please show all of your work.

Marissa has budgeted $65 for her monthly cell phone expense. If her plan with her wireless provider is $15 plus $0.25 for each minute, how many minutes can she talk on her cell phone in a month and not exceed her budget?

Ciara -- please use the same name for your posts.

http://www.gttp.org/html/canadalinks/curriculum/AppdxA.htm

http://www.jiskha.com/display.cgi?id=1320011027

To answer this question using the five steps for problem solving, we will follow a systematic approach. Here are the five steps:

Step 1: Understand the problem
Step 2: Devise a plan
Step 3: Carry out the plan
Step 4: Look back
Step 5: Communicate the solution

Step 1: Understand the Problem
Marissa wants to determine the number of minutes she can talk on her cell phone in a month without exceeding her budget of $65. Her wireless provider charges a fixed monthly fee of $15 and an additional $0.25 for each minute used.

Step 2: Devise a Plan
To solve this problem, we can use algebraic equations. We need to find the number of minutes (m) that Marissa can talk on her cell phone without exceeding her budget.

Step 3: Carry Out the Plan
Let's translate the information given in the problem into an equation.

Marissa's budget: $65
Fixed monthly fee: $15
Cost per minute: $0.25

The equation can be represented as:
15 + 0.25m ≤ 65

To find the number of minutes, we need to solve this inequality equation.

15 + 0.25m ≤ 65
0.25m ≤ 65 - 15
0.25m ≤ 50
Divide both sides by 0.25 to isolate m:
m ≤ 50 / 0.25
m ≤ 200

Marissa can talk for a maximum of 200 minutes without exceeding her budget.

Step 4: Look Back
Let's check our solution. If Marissa talks for 200 minutes, the cost will be:
Fixed monthly fee: $15
Cost per minute: $0.25

Total cost = Fixed fee + (Cost per minute * Number of minutes)
Total cost = $15 + ($0.25 * 200)
Total cost = $15 + $50
Total cost = $65

Since the total cost is equal to her budget, our solution is valid.

Step 5: Communicate the Solution
Marissa can talk on her cell phone for a maximum of 200 minutes in a month without exceeding her budget of $65.

So the solution is: Marissa can talk for a maximum of 200 minutes without exceeding her budget.