Alex and his father took a taxi cab that charges $2.60 per mile plus $1.50 for each passenger, and they paid a total of $18.60
Let's assume the distance they traveled is represented by "m" miles and the number of passengers is represented by "p."
According to the given information, the cost of the taxi ride is $2.60 per mile plus $1.50 for each passenger. Therefore, the total cost of the ride can be calculated using the following equation:
2.60m + 1.50p = 18.60
However, we don't have any information regarding the distance or the number of passengers. Therefore, we need more information to solve this problem.
To calculate the total distance traveled, you need to know how much each passenger was charged, as well as the amount charged per mile. Since we have the total amount paid and the additional cost per passenger, we can determine the number of passengers.
Let's denote the cost per mile as "C" and the additional charge per passenger as "P". We are given that the total amount paid is $18.60, so we can write the equation:
$18.60 = (C * d) + (P * p),
where "d" represents the distance traveled and "p" represents the number of passengers (including Alex and his father).
The problem states that the cost per mile is $2.60 and the additional charge per passenger is $1.50. Plugging these values into the equation, we get:
$18.60 = (2.60 * d) + (1.50 * p).
Since the equation involves two variables, we need to gather more information in order to solve for "d" and "p".
To solve this problem, we need to determine the distance traveled by the taxi cab. Let's assume that the distance traveled is "d" miles.
The total cost of the taxi cab ride is given as $18.60. This amount includes both the cost per mile and the additional cost per passenger.
The cost per mile is $2.60, so the total cost for the distance traveled is 2.60d.
The additional cost per passenger is $1.50, and since both Alex and his father took the taxi, the total additional cost for the passengers is 1.50 x 2 = $3.00.
Therefore, the equation becomes:
2.60d + 3.00 = 18.60
Now we can solve for "d" by rearranging the equation:
2.60d = 18.60 - 3.00
2.60d = 15.60
Now divide both sides of the equation by 2.60 to isolate "d":
d = 15.60 / 2.60
d = 6
So, the taxi cab traveled a distance of 6 miles.