SOLUTION: my question is this: if there is a set cost of 2500.00 and it costs 3.00 per animal how is it that there could be an average other than 2500 + 3.00. I have seen the questions i

Question 477658: my question is this: if there is a set cost of 2500.00 and it costs 3.00 per animal how is it that there could be an average other than 2500 + 3.00. I have seen the questions in the forum and I have the same problems to do for school. Only the problem doesn't make any sense. Here it is:
2. Biologists want to set up a station to test alligators in the lake for West Nile Virus. Suppose that the costs for such a station are $2,500 for setup costs and $3.00 to administer each test. How can the cost of the test change when it clearly says that it costs 3.00 per test? Always it never changes. 3.00 per test. So why do the next question deal with averages when the cost never changes.
Thank you,
Lynn
Lynn

Found 2 solutions by stanbon, mananth:
Answer by stanbon(75887) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Biologists want to set up a station to test alligators in the lake for West Nile Virus. Suppose that the costs for such a station are $2,500 for setup costs and $3.00 to administer each test. How can the cost of the test change when it clearly says that it costs 3.00 per test?
---------------------
Total cost = $2500 + $3x where x is the # of alligators tested.
----
If you test 100 alligators the average cost is (2500+300)/100 = $28
per alligator tested.
-----
If you test 200 alligators the average cost is (2500+600)/200 = 3100/200
= $15.50 per alligator tested.
====================
Cheers,
Stan H.
Answer by mananth(16946) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You must not forget that it costs $3 for each test.
so if x tests are conducted then the cost of testing will be 3x.
$2500 is set up cost.
(2500+3x)/x will be the average cost of each test.

m.ananth@hotmail.ca
RELATED QUESTIONS
2. Biologists want to set up a station to test alligators in the lake for West Nile... (answered by KMST)
1. The cost, in millions of dollars, to remove x % of pollution in a lake modeled by (answered by richard1234)
A lottery system has balls numbered 1 to 60 and randomly selects 7 of the lottery balls.... (answered by htmentor)
*NEED HELP WITH THIS LAST ASSIGNMENT FOR ALGEBRA 2. I'M HAVING TROUBLE FIGURING IT OUT.... (answered by ewatrrr,Tipporules)
1] The 180 students in a group are to be seated in rows so that there is an equal number... (answered by stanbon)
Biologists want to set up a station to test alligators in the lake for the West Nile... (answered by mananth)
Direction: Solve the following problems using inverse function. Show your solution. 1. (answered by ikleyn)
Use the graphical method to solve the following question. Scale: 2 cm: 10 units on both... (answered by Theo,ikleyn)
here is the question..... the starting salary for a first year teacher is 25700. each... (answered by stanbon)