Maribel Montes-Perez

Math 1050
October 27, 2016
Professor Eppler
E Portfolio
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Math 1050 involved more than just written math problems and tests. We ere

given a project to apply the techniques we were learning in a real world scenario. This
project was targeting the problem of the cost of transportation. Specifically involving the
best cost efficiency for driving a truck over a certain amount of miles. The problem
involved many components, such as the distance of miles driven, speed of the truck,
cost of fuel, mileage per hour, drivers hourly wage and the cost of the trucks hourly
wear and tear rate. Where it got more complex was that we needed to find the best
speed for the truck to be driven at for the least amount of money.
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We were given the range of speed between 50 miles per hour to 70 miles per

hour. Although we were only given the miles per gallon for 50 miles per hour, cost of fuel
per gallon, distance, and hour cost of the truck driver and wear and tear for the truck. To
best find the cost of average we started out with finding how long the trip would take at
50 miles per hour (the lowest speed). We found this out by dividing the distance (320
miles) by the speed (50 miles per hour). Once we found the time we must then find the
total cost of the drivers wage by multiplying his hourly salary ($26) by the total time. We
need to also do this with the hourly cost of the trucks wear and tear rate ($13.50). After
we find both total costs we add it together. Now we continue by finding out how many
gallons the truck will use by dividing the total miles (320) by the miles to the gallon the
truck receives (7). To then find the cost of gas we must multiply the total gallons we just

found by how much the fuel cost per gallon ($3.25). Finally we add the cost of fuel with
the total cost of the driver and trucks wage to give us the total amount of the trip at the
speed of 50 miles per hour ($401.37).
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Now we must find the total of of the trip at its peak of 70 miles per hour. Most

steps are the same. We first time the total time of the trip. With the time we can then
continue to find the total cost of the drivers wage and the trucks wear and tear. Where it
gets a little more complex is finding how much fuel will cost. We are told for each mile
per hour increased in speed, the truck loses 1/10 of a mile per gallon in its milage. So
to find how many miles the truck gets per gallon you must find the difference of speed
from 50 miles per hour to 70 miles per hour (20 miles). (You can also do this equation
with any other speed.) Once you find the difference you must multiply that total by 1/10
(in this case is 2). Given the fact that the truck gets 7 miles to the gallon you must
subtract the total you just received (2) from 7 to find the new fuel milage.This gave us a
total of 5 miles per gallon. Now we can proceed to find the total amount of gallons again
by dividing the total miles (320) by the fuel milage (5). Then you continue to multiply the
total gallons (64) by the cost of fuel per gallon ($3.25). Finally you add this total to the
total of the truck drivers wage and the trucks wear and tear ($388.57).
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The third part of this project was to simply write about each step we just did BUT

with no speed. So we must use something in place of blank, which we were asked to
use the letter X. For example the first step would be 320 divided by X to find the total
time. The forth step was to graph the maximum and minimum using the equation we
came up with when using X. We were also asked the average speed the truck must go

to get the best cost for the trip. The graphing website told us the the minimum total cost
of the trip would be $383.09, if the truck went at a speed of 62.9 miles per hour.
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This project helped open my eyes in many ways. For example since the truck

loses 1/10 for every mile increased going 70 miles per hour will not be the most cost
efficient speed because it will cost more in fuel. But going 50 miles per hour takes
longer and will cost more to pay the driver and for the trucks wear and tear. All these
steps show how it can not be as basic as going only 50 miles per hour or 70 miles per
hour. Now when planning the cost of things not just driving trips but manufacturing cost I
will take more than a glance or just guess what will be most efficient for me. I can break
it down step by step for find the right equation to get the best average.