Name C\r\r\ Dnncan Date

Transportation Costs (or Trucker's Dilemma)

Math 1050 College Algebra Project

A truck drivin$ 26O miles over a flat interstate at a constant rate of 5O miles per hour gets 7 miles to the
$allon. Fuel costs $-3.[9per $allon. For each mile per hour increase in speed, the truck loses a tenth of a
mile per $allon in its milea$e. Drivers get $27.5O per hour in wafies andJ1xg! rg"lqfor running the truck
amount to
t1:33_j*t t -t, 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 ut{91ntt"r lg i9gl, The cost is made up of rwo componenrs: the fuel cost and rhe
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.
2,G O
^ \i:,r,, -
\daqes\t R,s\l Sqead 1
(6rl ,1-1 y^

The length of time required for the trip is a.d . (Do not round.)

B. Now, with this time known, how much will it cost to pay the driver and run the truck?
Dr\uevs = ?t,bo (tt.5o) (s.z) = \r{ 3 5K,1\6 s \q3 --
Eg_:f:r'_,
1?uc6-- \r.eg (it,g3XS.?) = 5g.q I

The amount needed to pay the driver and run the truck is . (Round to nearest cent.)

C. Next determine, at 7 miles per gallon for 260 miles, how much fuel will be required.

7Co -- 31-\\ zRb-ll{-t

I 0o.\\oFrS

The amount of fuel required is

3+ . (Do not round. Leave as afraction.)
D. With the amount of fuel known, how much will the fuel cost to make the 260 miles?

A{ro -"6t.\L1r-86r\qX
L-
? 3.5o ) = rz o

The cost of the fuel is s \30 (Round to nearest cent.)

E. Finally we can find the TOTAL cosr.

\vo + 2o \.q?

The total cost for the trip is $ 33\.12 . (Round to nearest cent.)