SOLUTION: Problem: To save the environment, the Lion�s Den Cafeteria sells an empty reusable 24-ounce plastic mug to students for $2.99. Using the mug, a student can get a 24-ounce soft drin

Question 146885: Problem: To save the environment, the Lion�s Den Cafeteria sells an empty reusable 24-ounce plastic mug to students for $2.99. Using the mug, a student can get a 24-ounce soft drink for a reduced price of 69 cents.
(1) If a student buys the mug and uses it only once, then what is the cost for that one drink?
(2) If a student buys the mug and uses it twice, then what is the average cost per drink?
(3) Does the average cost per drink increase or decrease as the mug is used more and more?
(4) If the regular price of a 24-ounce soft drink is 89 cents, then when does the student start saving money?
(5) Write a rational expression for which the value of the expression is the average cost per drink and n is the number of times the mug is used.

Answer by Fombitz(32388) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
1. Students buys mug, then drink. $2.99+$0.69=$3.68 (1 drink).
2. Students buys mug, then drink, then drink. $2.99+$0.69+$0.69=$4.37 for two drinks. $2.19 average (2 drinks).
3. Decreases, gets closer to $0.69.
4. In other words, when does the average price go below $0.89.
Average Cost = (Cost of the mug + N*(Cost of Drink))/N
Where n is the number of drinks bought.

We move up to the next highest integer, 15.
After 15 drinks, the student saves money.
5. We already did that in 4)

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