Question 505764
Solar Advantage offers to install solar panels that generate 300 kWh of electricity per month for an installation fee of $11,000.
 She uses 350 kWh of electricity per month, and her local utility company charges 20¢ per kWh.
:
(a) If Lina gets all her electrical power from the local utility company, find a linear function U that models the cost U(x)(in dollars) of electricity for x months of service.
U(x) = x(.20*350)
U(x) = 70x
:
(b) If Lina has Solar Advantage install solar panels on her roof that generate 300 kWh of power per month, find a linear function S that models the cost S(x)(in dollars) of electricity for x months of service.
S(x) = x(.20*50) + 11000
S(x) = 10x + 11000
:
(c) Determine the number of months it would take to reach the break-even point for installation of Solar Advantage's solar panels, that is, determine when S(x) = U(x).(Round your answer to the nearest month
70x = 10x + 11000
70x - 10x = 11000
60x = 11000
x = 11000/60
x = 183.33 months to break even