document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=776720>Question 776720</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Please help, I'm lost on how to solve this problem. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "The cost of driving a car include both fixed costs and milege costs. Assume that it costs $172.90 per month for insurance and car payments and $0.34 per mile for gasoline, oil, and routine maintenance.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Find values for m and b so that y=mx+b models the monthly cost of driving the car x miles.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "What does the value of b represent? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #473694 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josgarithmetic><B>josgarithmetic(39618)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josgarithmetic><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=473694\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> x is for miles per month, a variable.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "m is used with x in the manner, mx = the cost according to miles per month.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "If you want y to be the monthly cost for using the car, then the next cost contribution is the fixed cost of $172.90.  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "The meaning for m is the $0.34 per mile.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Summary:  Variable cost is<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+mx=0.34%2Ax ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+mx=0.34%2Ax\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Fixed cost is $<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=172.80 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"172.80\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Using y as the monthly cost to operate this car, <BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=highlight%28y=0.34x%2B172.90%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"highlight%28y=0.34x%2B172.90%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The b from general form of the linear equation is the y intercept.  When the car is not used in the one month period, the cost is still at least that value, <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=b=172.90 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"b=172.90\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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