document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1152212>Question 1152212</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The cost of driving a car includes both fixed costs and mileage costs. Assume that insurance and car payments cost ​$360 per month and​ gasoline, oil, and routine maintenance cost ​$0.25 per mile.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "​(a) Find a linear function f that gives the annual cost of driving this car x miles. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "​(b) What does the​ y-intercept on the graph of f​ represent?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Potential Answers:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(a) I initially came up with \"f(x) = 0.25x + 360\" (.25x represents maintenance, etc. while 360 = fixed cost) *This was initially wrong* It brings up \"ANNUAL\" cost of driving in the question (I believe is 12 months?)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(b) I believe the y-intercept on the graph is the \"Total Cost\"\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Anything would help greatly!\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Thank you. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #774182 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><B>jim_thompson5910(35256)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><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=774182\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <font color=black size=3><BR>\n" );
document.write( "(a)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "fixed costs = insurance and car payments (these do not change no matter how many miles you drive)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "mileage costs = cost of gas, oil, & maintenence (these do change based on how many miles you drive)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x = number of miles<BR>\n" );
document.write( "0.25x = cost of driving x miles = mileage costs<BR>\n" );
document.write( "360 = monthly fixed cost<BR>\n" );
document.write( "360*12 = 4320 = annual fixed cost\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "f(x) = annual cost of driving x miles<BR>\n" );
document.write( "f(x) = (mileage costs) + (annual fixed costs)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "f(x) = (0.25x) + (4320)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "f(x) = 0.25x+4320\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(b)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The y intercept represents the starting cost, or initial cost. In other words, if you drive x = 0 miles, then the total cost would be $4,320. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Of course you'll likely drive some number of miles, so you'll add on whatever the result of 0.25x would be.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The y intercept is where the graph crosses the y axis.<BR>\n" );
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