Margo can purchase tile at a store for $0.59 per tile and rent a tile saw for $21. At another store she can borrow the tile saw for free if she buys tiles there for $1.29 per tile. How many tiles must she buy for the cost to be the same at both stores?
If the cost is the same for x tiles, then you have
0.59x + 21 = 1.29x
To find out how many tiles Margo must buy for the cost to be the same at both stores, we need to compare the total cost of purchasing the tiles and renting the tile saw at each store.
Let'sassume the number of tiles she must buy is T.
At the first store, the cost of purchasing T tiles would be $0.59 * T. Additionally, she needs to rent a tile saw for $21. So, the total cost at the first store is $0.59 * T + $21.
At the second store, if she buys T tiles at $1.29, the cost of purchasing the tiles would be $1.29 * T. However, she can borrow the tile saw for free. So the total cost at the second store is $1.29 * T + $0.
To find out when the costs are the same at both stores, we need to set up an equation:
$0.59 * T + $21 = $1.29 * T + $0
Simplifying the equation:
$0.59 * T - $1.29 * T = -$21
Combining like terms:
($0.59 - $1.29) * T = -$21
Solving for T:
-$0.70 * T = -$21
Dividing both sides by -0.70:
T = -$21 / -$0.70
T = 30
Therefore, Margo must buy 30 tiles for the cost to be the same at both stores.