Posted by Thomas M on Monday, March 9, 2015 at 4:12am.


I am working wth a cell phone performance task project. I have to determine which three cell phones are the best for a first time user and develop an equation for each of them.
Wal-Mart has a plan for $30.00 a month with .29 per minute. It includes a $70.00 phone with a rebate of $40.00 and a two year contract. Nextel has a plan for $28.00 a month plus $.30 per minute. With this plan you get a free phone and unlimited minutes with no contract. Carolina has a plan for $25.00 a month plus $.32 per minute. All roaming and long distance are free. You also get a phone for $19.99 with a one year contract.

How do I develop an equation that show the beginning of the first month and one that shows the equation after the first month.

I am stuck on the minutes. Please help!

To develop an equation for each of the three cell phone plans, we need to consider the monthly cost and the cost per minute. Let's start by understanding the equations for the beginning of the first month and after the first month for each cell phone plan.

1. Wal-Mart plan:
- Monthly cost: $30.00
- Cost per minute: $0.29
- Phone cost: $70.00 with a rebate of $40.00 (net cost: $70.00 - $40.00 = $30.00)
- Two-year contract

Equations:
- Beginning of the first month: Cost = Monthly cost + Phone cost = $30.00 + $30.00 = $60.00
- After the first month: Cost = Monthly cost + (Cost per minute * minutes used)

2. Nextel plan:
- Monthly cost: $28.00
- Cost per minute: $0.30
- Free phone
- Unlimited minutes
- No contract

Equations:
- Beginning of the first month: Cost = Monthly cost = $28.00
- After the first month: Cost = Monthly cost + (Cost per minute * minutes used)

3. Carolina plan:
- Monthly cost: $25.00
- Cost per minute: $0.32
- Phone cost: $19.99 with a one-year contract
- All roaming and long-distance are free

Equations:
- Beginning of the first month: Cost = Monthly cost + Phone cost = $25.00 + $19.99 = $44.99
- After the first month: Cost = Monthly cost + (Cost per minute * minutes used)

These equations will help you calculate the cost for each cell phone plan based on the minutes used. Just plug in the minutes used in the "After the first month" equation to get the total cost.

To develop an equation for each cell phone plan, let's consider the costs involved.

First, let's analyze the Wal-Mart plan:
- Monthly fee: $30.00
- Cost per minute: $0.29
- Phone cost: $70.00 with a $40.00 rebate

For the first month, the equation to calculate the cost would be:
Cost = Monthly fee + (Minutes used * Cost per minute) - Phone rebate

After the first month, the equation changes to:
Cost = Monthly fee + (Minutes used * Cost per minute)

Now let's analyze the Nextel plan:
- Monthly fee: $28.00
- Cost per minute: $0.30
- Phone cost: Free

For the first month and subsequent months, the equation to calculate the cost would be:
Cost = Monthly fee + (Minutes used * Cost per minute)

Lastly, let's analyze the Carolina plan:
- Monthly fee: $25.00
- Cost per minute: $0.32
- Phone cost: $19.99 with a one-year contract

For the first month, the equation to calculate the cost would be:
Cost = Monthly fee + (Minutes used * Cost per minute) + Phone cost

After the first month, the equation changes to:
Cost = Monthly fee + (Minutes used * Cost per minute)

Note that these equations assume the number of minutes used is constant and that no additional charges or fees apply.

To determine which three cell phones are the best for a first-time user, you may compare the total cost for different usage scenarios (e.g., a set number of minutes per month) and choose the phones with the lowest overall cost.