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Re: The price of a phone call consists of a standard connection [#permalink]
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sandy wrote:
The price of a phone call consists of a standard connection fee, which is constant, plus a per minute charge. A 10-minute call costs $2.90 and a 16-minute call costs $4.40. How much does a 13-minute call cost?

(A) $3.55
(B) $3.57
(C) $3.58
(D) $3.65
(E) $3.77


Letting f = the standard connection fee and n = the per-minute charge, we can create two equations, one for the 10-minute call and one for the 16-minute call::

f + 10n = 2.90

and

f + 16n = 4.40

Subtracting the first equation from the second, we have:

6n = 1.50

n = 0.25 (This is the per-minute charge)

Substituting 0.25 for n into the first equation, we see that f is:

f + 2.5 = 2.90

f = 0.4 (This is the fixed fee)

So a 13-minute call costs 0.4 + 13 x 0.25 = $3.65.

Answer: D
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Re: The price of a phone call consists of a standard connection [#permalink]
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sandy wrote:
The price of a phone call consists of a standard connection fee, which is constant, plus a per minute charge. A 10-minute call costs $2.90 and a 16-minute call costs $4.40. How much does a 13-minute call cost?

(A) $3.55
(B) $3.57
(C) $3.58
(D) $3.65
(E) $3.77


Let C = price of connection fee
Let M = the price PER MINUTE

A 10-minute call costs $2.90
We can write: C + 10M = 2.90

A 16-minute call costs $4.40.
We can write: C + 16M = 4.40

How much does a 13-minute call cost?
So far, we have:
C + 10M = 2.90
C + 16M = 4.40

ONE (slower) approach would be to solve the system for C and M, and then calculate the cost of a 13-minute call.
The FASTER approach is to recognize that something great happens when we ADD the two equations

We get: 2C + 26M = 7.30
Now divide both sides by 2 to get: C + 13M = 3.65

Since C + 13M represents the TOTAL cost of a 13-minute call, we can conclude that a 13-minute call costs $3.65

Answer: D

Cheers,
Brent
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Re: The price of a phone call consists of a standard connection [#permalink]
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Re: The price of a phone call consists of a standard connection [#permalink]
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