Word problem

G

Guest

Guest
Hi Guys,
I've got a word problem that I don't even know where to begin with... Could someone help me figure this guy out? Thanks so much...

The effective U.S. Postal Service rates for a first class letter weighing no more than 14 ounces total, are $0.37 for the first ounce or fraction thereof and an additional $0.23 for each ounce or fraction of an ounce over one ounce.


What would be the cost of for sending a first class letter
weighing 1.55 ounces?

And how would I sketch a curve representing this function for a letter weighing less than four ounces?

Thanks again...
 
boousaf said:
The effective U.S. Postal Service rates for a first class letter weighing no more than 14 ounces total, are $0.37 for the first ounce or fraction thereof and an additional $0.23 for each ounce or fraction of an ounce over one ounce.

What would be the cost of for sending a first class letter
weighing 1.55 ounces?
Click to expand...

First Ounce or Fraction Thereof: 1.00 ==> $0.37
Second Ounce or Fraction Thereof: 0.55 ==> $0.23
 
tkhunny,
so the cost for sending a letter of 1.55 ounces is 60 cents.

I see where you get 1st ounce -> 1.00 -> .37cents
How did you get the second ounce part?

And how would I sketch a curve representing this function for a letter weighing less than four ounces?

Thanks so much!
Chris
 
If I understand the question correctly.

You have a linear equation of the form

y = mx + b

Where y is the cost, and x is the weight.


x..... y

1..... 0.37

2..... 0.6

3..... 0.83

4..... 1.06

The common difference, m, is 0.23.

And b is the (cost of the first ounce - the common difference), which = 0.14.

Your equation for the cost, y, of sending a letter weighing, x, ounces is therefore.

y = 0.23x + 0.14

Substitute into this equation to find the cost.

It seems I may have misunderstood the question, I don't send many letters, so I don't know the threshold levels for postage costs.

I have a graph where cost varies continuously with weight.

That whole fraction of a part wording thing through me off.
 
Total Ounces less Ounces alread accounted for.

1.55 - 1.00 = 0.55 That is part of the next ounce, but they don't charge partial for partial ounces.

You may have difficulty graphing this one. It isn't a smooth curve or a line like you may have seen before. It jumps every ounce then just sits there until the next ounce starts.
 
Ok,
Tk, I think I see what you are saying about the graph it would look something like a set of stairs going up? If so, Would it start at y = 0, or looking at ting's equation would it start at y = 37?

Also, now Im confused about the first part of the question again, looking at what you said tk I get 60 cents to send the letter, looking at what ting said I get 49 cents to send the letter, sorry, I really am trying!
 
tkhunny said:
First Ounce or Fraction Thereof: 1.00 ==> $0.37
Second Ounce or Fraction Thereof: 0.55 ==> $0.23
Click to expand...
i was solving it and got stuck in some steps but this helped me to it out thanks for taking your time to explain
 
Guest said:
Ok,
Tk, I think I see what you are saying about the graph it would look something like a set of stairs going up? If so, Would it start at y = 0, or looking at ting's equation would it start at y = 37?

Also, now Im confused about the first part of the question again, looking at what you said tk I get 60 cents to send the letter, looking at what ting said I get 49 cents to send the letter, sorry, I really am trying!
Click to expand...

0 weight - 0 cost. Assuming the graph is for letters with non-zero weight it will start with the minimum you can pay, which is what?
Ting's solution is not correct, this is not a linear relationship. The graph looks like a staircase, but without vertical lines (do you know what's wrong with vertical lines?)
 
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