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Transportation Costs (or Trucker's Dilemma)

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Math 1050 College Algebra Project

Uolleee

I athe nrat ics D""purt

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nt

truck driving 26O miles ovcr a flat interstate at a constant rate of 5O miles per hour gots 7 miles to the
$allon. Fuel costs $3.5O per gallon. For each mile pcr hour incrcase in speed, tfte truck loses a tenth of a
mile per gallon in its mileage. Driverc get $27.50 per hour in wagm and fixed costs for rrnning thc truck
amount to $11.33 per hour. Wrat constant cpeed (betveen 5O mph and fire speed limit of 65 mph) should
tfte truck drive to minimize the total cost of the tripP
A

I:

To solve a problem like this, it is a good idea to start with calculating an actual example. We will begin by finding
the total cost if the ruck is driven at 50 miles per hour. The cost is made up of two components: the fuel cost and the
time cost, Be sure to include the correct units with each value below.
Part

A. Let's

start out by finding how long the trip

|to +i9

will

take.

{9o" ''= T'2 hrt

rrk ' fiu.. ton'{h

ligs,,tl

The length of time required for the trip is

B. Now, with this time known, how much will it cost to pay the driver
* e.Z) +(zt.io yq.?)
6t

5.? l^,wt

. (Do not round.)

and run the truck?

.n

o*XLjjS*

The amount needed to pay the driver and run the truck

C. Next

f zot,qz
is trtb*b

determine, at 7 miles per gallon for 260 miles, how much fuel

z0o

|1

will

. @ound. to nearest cent.)

be required.

er?-l .tttXt5-lt\

The amount of fuel required

i, ?6ojf 'latlont

D. With the amount of fuel known, how much will

. (Do not round. Izave as

afraction.)

the fuel cost to make the 260 miles?

The cost of the fuel is

t tqo

. (Round to nearest cent.)

Finally we can find the TOTAL cost.

tlo *

?/ol.q'L

The total cost for the trip is

$ zzt.at

(Round to nearest cent.)

y.t

The preceding process should have illuminated the basic procedure we will use to find the total cost of a trip.
Next we will find the total cost if the truck is driven at 65 miles per hour. As in Part I, include the correct unitg with each
Part

tr:

value.

A. Let's find how long the trip will take.

1{oolK

The length of time required for the tdp

B. Now, with this time known,

is -\ hvS-S

. (Do not round.)

how much will it cost to pay the driver and run the truck?

(tr.gtxq)+(r,t.qx{)

+ nD

r.tS,l?

\r

The amount needed to pay the driver and run the tnrck

is t

5.

. (Round to nearest cent.)

C. Next,

to begin determining the fuel cost, we need to find the mileage (miles per gallon of fuel) when the truck
is travelling at 65 miles per hour.

tG r-f6 ' t.r

'1

-l.q

o5.9r{1

The mileage at 55 miles per hour

D. With

the fuel mileage known, how much fuel

Zuo/5.S

the amount of fuel known, how much

(z'"o1s.t)

Do not round.)

be needed for the 260 miles?

F tt?'??

The amount of fuel required

E. With

will

is 5 '9

i, , 19o/5'f lntr*^
will

. (Do not

round. Izave as a fraction.)

the fuel cost to make the 260 miles?

3 .<

The eost of the fuel

t .t

lb

5.

q<

&owtd to ncarest cent.)

F. Finally we can find the TOTAL cost.

{ 1((.n t$

t(rS.\S
\-____J
Thetotalcostforthetripis

f XU.T)

.(Rourtdtonuarestcent.)

v\

We should now have a good process for determining the total cost of a trip for any rate of speed greater than or
equal to 50 miles per hour. Next is to create a Total Cost function using X as the unknown rate in miles per hour.
Simplify your answers and remember to include units. As you work through each step, test your onswers by plugging in
50 mph and then 65 rnph and comparing with results from pans I and IL
part

ltr.

A. Let's find how long the trip will take.

?6o/ v

2ro./so ' S.2 how(

r.bofi o: Lt t'\4,,1
The length of time required for the trip is

B, Now with this time known, how much will it cost to pay the driver
Us.zt r%{r,) + (a*o r ?go/x)

Ilo[x

}u.-r

and run the truck?

vilD/6.) .t(?,f,\Dx ?.l/q,r) --lole1'

[ff"t?'
(rl.3i ttl) t CD.5o r\) -+'

Crt.13

The amount of money needed to pay the driver and run the truck is

C. Next,

{19.6, (u"lx)

to begin determining the fuel cost, we need to find the mileage (miles per gallon of
is travelling at X miles per hour.

ftel)

when the truck

r- Cr+i h"
l - (qo-so) (Yro) *?
-1
- (bS-5') CY,') " i.5
The mileage at X miles per hour is

D. With

the fuel mileage known, how much fuel

will

7- G - E.)

%o

be needed for the 260 miles?

>$e -=-f
-?eo w2 = -eOt*.tlr" iffir"
{ff,.ea)}'* g'5

'r-

]-Lo

.,-Gl

The amount of fuel required is

E. With the amount of fuel known, how much will

t{*:ffi\''a

Gffi,J

-*^n.

;fr1xo

the fuel cost to make the260 miles?

rtoo

(**\,<

t(h.\o f?tn.rr
Thecostof

F. Now we can find

(=*fi**

( r*il-3.e-

the

gq)
r 1'r

X,ral

TOTAL cost function. Express your function

as

thefuelirM.

C(X) =

* 3$'33 ct'a,.\
*1{ '?l C$olso) =l}st$ft'

xtr.( .lr.*(?r.[r,s)

"

il;*

a.s) ,xi.3?

fur4

rrip cost Function is

"/"t

and 65 mph to
G. The last thing we should do is verify that this is the correct function by evaluating it at 50 mph
see if we get the same values we have previously computed.

(r-

\no- -

r a.s\ tbg.gl ('rr,l*))

ts",go)v' *'(rl
)

tup

,ril
crso)

x a'r) + ll'*?(6"/er)
f#r.
--(irr.G) t (rsr'z)

c(65) =

f zu.'\z

3r.o.t s

Assuming the function is modeling correctly, you need to calculate the minimum cost. Graph the Cost Function
(50,315). You may use a
and find its minimum point. Sketch your graph here: Have the lower left point represent

part

IV.

The minimum COST for the triP is

MPH that minimizes

cosT

ir

t ? t4 .tl

t' 56

*th

?\1
9o

MPH

Reflecrive Writing: How did this project change the way you think about real-world math applications? Write at least one
paragraph stating what ideas changed and why. Next, discuss how the math skills that you applied in this project will
impict other claises you will take in your school career? Point to specific parts of the project and your own process in
completing it that might have applications for other classes.

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