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Date
Transportation Costs
(or Trucker's Dilemma)
Math 1050 College Algebra Project
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I\,I athematics D
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A truck driving 26O miles over a ftat interstate at a constant rate of 5O miles per hour gets 7 miles to the
glallon. Fuel costs $3.5O
per gallon. For each mile per hour increase in speed, the truck loses a tenth of a
mile per gallon in its mileage. Drivers
get
$27.50
per hour in wa$es and fixed costs for running the truck
amount to $1 1 .33 per hour. What constant speed (between 5O mph and the speed limit of 65 mph) should
the truck drive to minimize the total cost of the tripP
Part 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 truck 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.
A. Let's start out by finding how long the trip will take. i r\
The length of time required for the trip is (Do not round.)
B. Now, with this time known, how much will it cost to pay the driver and run the truck?
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(Round to nearest cent.)
The amount needed to Dav the driver and run the truck is
C. Next determine, at 7 miles per gallon for 260 miles, how much fuel will be required.
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The amount of fuel reouired is . (Do not round.
D. With the amount of fuel known. how much will the fuel cost to make the260 miles?
The cost of the fuel is Round to nearest cent.)
E. Finally we can find the TOTAL cost.
(Round to nearest cent.)
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afraction.)
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The total cost for the trip is
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Part IL The preceding process should have illuminated the basic procedure we will uselto 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 units with each
value.
A. Let's find how long the trip will take.
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The length of time required for the trip is
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. (Do not round.)
B. Now, with this time known, how much will it cost to pay the driver and runlthe truck?
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The amount needed to pay the driver and run the truck it #
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. (Round to nearest cent.)
C. Next, to begin determining the fuel cost
is travelling at 65 miles per hour.
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teage
(miles per gallon of fuel) when the truck mi
. we need to find the
The mileage at 65 miles per hour
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. (Do not rourud.)
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D. With the fuel mileage known, how much fuel will be needed for the 260 mifes?
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The amount of fuel required i, -l 5g 5 . (Do not round. I'eave as afraction.)
E. With thq amount of fuel known, how much will the fuel cost to make the 260 miles?
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Thecostof the fuel t
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. (Round to nearest cent.)
F. Finally we can find the TOTAL cost.
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The roral cosr for rhe ffip r, .F
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, l7 . (Round to nearest cent.)
Part III. We should now have a good process for determining.the total cost of a trip for
lany
rate of speed greater than or
equal to 50 miles per hour. Next is to create a Total Cost function using X as the unkngwn rate in miles per hour.
Simplify yorrr answers and remember to include units. As you work through each step, Vest
your answers by plugging in
50 mph and then 65 mph and comparing with resuhs
from
parts I and II.
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A. Let's find how long the trip will take.
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The l6ngth of time required for the trip is
B. Now with this time known, how much will it cost to pay the driver and run
4he
truck?
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The amount of money needed to pay the driver and run theitruck is
C. Next, to begin determining the fuel cost, we need to find the mileage (mileslper gallon of fuel) when the truck
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is travelling at X miles per hour.
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The mileage at X miles pe{ hour is
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With the fuel mileage known, how much fuel will be needed for the 260 mifes?
D.
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the amou
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r find
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The amount of fuel ,"jtir",
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will the fuel cost to make the 260 mi
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The cost of th,e fut
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Express your function as C(X)i=
5E,X3CN-\/x)
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L Trip Cost Function is
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miles?
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ruer is
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amount of fuel known, how much w.
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can find the TOTAL cost function- I
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'TOTAL
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With the amt
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Now we can
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F.
G. The last thing we should do is verify that this is the correct function by evaiuating it at 50 mph and 65 mph to
see if we get the same values we have previously computed.
c(50)
=
c(65)
=
Part fV. Assuming the function is modeling correctly, you need to calculate the minimum cost. Graph the Cost Function
and find its minimum point. Sketch your graph here: Have the lower left point represent (50,315). You may use a
*7#Sp|i"eutiiity
to help you find the minimum point.
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The minimum COST for the trip is
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MPH that minimizes COST is
MPH
Reflective 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
impact other classes 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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