SOLUTION: A printing company charges $15.00 per order plus $0.10 per page for printing flyers. A second company charges $12.00 per order plus $0.15 per page. Find the equilibrium point, and

Algebra ->  Human-and-algebraic-language -> SOLUTION: A printing company charges $15.00 per order plus $0.10 per page for printing flyers. A second company charges $12.00 per order plus $0.15 per page. Find the equilibrium point, and       Log On


   

Question 189856: A printing company charges $15.00 per order plus $0.10 per page for printing flyers. A second company charges $12.00 per order plus $0.15 per page. Find the equilibrium point, and explain what this point means in the context of the data.
Answer by jojo14344(1513) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


We can simply find the equilibrium point by equating the 2 conditions

Let x = number of pages the 2 companies are printing.

Company A = Company B

Fixed Rate per Order + Rate per Page = Fixed Rate per Order + Rate per Page
15%2B0.10%2Ared%28x%29=12%2B0.15%2Ared%28x%29
15-12=0.15%2Ared%28x%29-0.10%2Ared%28x%29
3=0.05%2Ared%28x%29 ---> cross%283%2960%2Fcross%280.05%29=cross%280.05%29%2Ared%28x%29%2Fcross%280.05%29
highlight%28red%28x=60pages%29%29 ----> Equilibrium Point, either A or B = same price.

*In economics, the supply equals the demand.
In our problem, when you print 60 pages, you can go either A or B for the charges are equal (the same).

Calculations:

Company A: 15%2B0.10%2Ahighlight%2860pages%29=15%2B6= $21.00

Company B: 12%2B0.15%2Ahighlight%2860pages%29=12%2B9= $21.00

We see the graph,


As you see in the graph, if the no. of pages is less than 60, go with Company B ---> cheaper!

If the no. of pages is more than 60, go with Company A ---> cheaper!

Try 40 pages? 80pages?

Thank you,
Jojo