document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=158736>Question 158736</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 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. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "a.	Write an expression that gives the total cost to test x animals.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "b.	You can find the average cost per animal by dividing total costs by number of animals. Write the expression that gives the average cost per animal.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "c.	Find the average cost per animal for 10 animals. 100 animals. 1,000 animals.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "d.	As the number of animals tested increases, what happens to the average cost to test the animals? Would the average cost ever fall below $3.00? If so, identify a value that supports your answer. If not, explain how you know. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "e.	How many animals should be tested for the average cost to be $5.00 per animal? <BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #116908 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=116908\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Suppose that the costs for such a station are $2,500 for setup costs and $3.00 to administer each test. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "a. Write an expression that gives the total cost to test x animals.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "C(x) = 2500 + 3x dollars<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "b. You can find the average cost per animal by dividing total costs by number of animals. Write the expression that gives the average cost per animal.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "[C(x)]/x = [2500 + 3x]/x<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "c. Find the average cost per animal for 10 animals. 100 animals. 1,000 animals. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "For 10 animals: [C(10)] = [2500 + 3*10]/10 = 2800/10 = 280 dollars<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "You can do the work for x=100 and for x=1000<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "d. As the number of animals tested increases, what happens to the average cost to test the animals? Would the average cost ever fall below $3.00? If so, identify a value that supports your answer. If not, explain how you know. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "The horizontal asymptote is 3x/x = 3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The average would not drop below $3<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "e. How many animals should be tested for the average cost to be $5.00 per animal? <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Let C(x)=$5 and solve for \"x\":<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5 = [2500+3x]/x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2x = 2500<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = 1250 animals.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H.<BR>\n" );
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