the cost of renting a rototiller is $16.50 for the first hour and $10.95 for each additional hour. How long can a person have the rototiller if the cost must be less than $55.00?
To figure out how long a person can have the rototiller for less than $55.00, we need to set up an equation based on the given cost.
Let's use "x" to represent the number of additional hours after the first hour.
The cost of renting a rototiller for the first hour is $16.50. For every additional hour, the cost is $10.95.
So, the equation to calculate the total cost of renting the rototiller is:
Total Cost = Cost of the first hour + (Number of additional hours × Cost per additional hour)
In this case, the total cost must be less than $55.00.
Therefore, the equation becomes:
16.50 + (10.95 × x) < 55.00
To find out the maximum value for "x" that satisfies this equation, we can solve it by isolating "x".
16.50 + 10.95x < 55.00
Subtracting 16.50 from both sides:
10.95x < 55.00 - 16.50
10.95x < 38.50
Now, divide both sides by 10.95:
x < 38.50 / 10.95
x < 3.52 (rounded to two decimal places)
Therefore, a person can have the rototiller for a maximum of 3 additional hours (rounded down from 3.52), in addition to the first hour, while still keeping the cost below $55.00.
16.5 + 10.95x < 55.
10.95x < 38.50
x < 3.5 hours