Problema Solution

Jake is comparing the prices of two laundry service companies. Company A charges $20 per load and an additional $8 as service charges. Company B charges $24 per load and an additional $4 as service charges.

Part A: Write equations to represent Company A's and Company B's total laundry charges for a certain number of loads. Define the variable used in the equations)

Part B: Which company would charge less for 5 loads of laundry? Justify your answer.

Part C: How much money is saved by using the services of Company A instead of Company B to clean 9 loads of laundry?

Answer provided by our tutors

Part A: Let 'x' represent the number of loads. x is the variable used in the equations.

Company A's total laundry charges for x loads: y1 = 20x + 8

Company B's total laundry charges for x loads: y2 = 24x + 4

Part B: Which company would charge less for 5 loads of laundry? Justify your answer.

x = 5

Company A's total laundry charges for 5 loads is: y1 = 20*5 + 8 = $108

Company B's total laundry charges for 5 loads is: y2 = 24*5 + 4 = $124

Since $108 < $124 Company A will charge less.

Part C: How much money is saved by using the services of Company A instead of Company B to clean 9 loads of laundry?

y2 - y1 = 24x + 4 - 20x - 8 = 4x - 4

For x = 9 we have:

y2 - y1 = 4*9 - 4 = $32

$32 are saved by using Company A.