<PRE><B>Question 477658</B>
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. How can the cost of the test change when it clearly says that it costs 3.00 per test? 

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Total cost = $2500 + $3x where x is the # of alligators tested.
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If you test 100 alligators the average cost is (2500+300)/100 = $28
per alligator tested.
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If you test 200 alligators the average cost is (2500+600)/200 = 3100/200
= $15.50 per alligator tested.
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Cheers,
Stan H.</PRE>