Question

a car rental company charges $30.50 a day plus $.20 per mile for a compact car. if a customer can spend $80, how many miles can he drive that compact car in one day

Explanation:

Step1: Define variables and cost equation

Let \( m \) be the number of miles driven. The total cost \( C \) is the daily charge plus the per - mile charge. So the cost equation is \( C = 30.50+0.20m \). We know that the customer can spend \( C = 80 \) dollars.

Step2: Substitute and solve for m

Substitute \( C = 80 \) into the equation: \( 80=30.50 + 0.20m \). First, subtract 30.50 from both sides: \( 80 - 30.50=0.20m \). Calculate \( 80 - 30.50 = 49.50 \), so \( 49.50 = 0.20m \). Then, solve for \( m \) by dividing both sides by 0.20: \( m=\frac{49.50}{0.20} \).

Step3: Calculate the value of m

\( \frac{49.50}{0.20}=247.5 \)

Answer:

The customer can drive 247.5 miles.