Transportation Costs (or Trucker’s Dilemma) College Algebra Project A truck driving 350 miles over a flat interstate at a constant rate of 50 miles per hour gets 6.5 miles to the fallon. Fuel costs $2.25 per gallon. For each mile per hour increase in speed, the truck loses twelve one- hundredths of a mile per gallon in its mileage. Drivers get $29.50 per hour in wages and fixed casts for running the truck amount to $15 per hour. What constant speed (between 50 mph and the speed limit of 70 mph) should the truck drive to minimize the total cost of the trip? Part To solve a problem like this, it is a good idea to start with caleulating an actual example. We will begin by finding the total cost if the truck is driven at 50 miles per hour. The cost is mace up of two components: the fuel cost and the time cost. Be sure to include the correct units with each value below. Show your work. ‘A, Let's start out by finding how long the trip will take. S 50 mi a ~ time a2) mote 50 moh (has) The length of time required for the tip is__ 7b _ has (Do not round) 3B. Now, with his tme known, how much wil it cost to pay the diver and run the ruck? Gost to pag, the vee: £29.50 « 4 =£206.50) rota ‘ - otal wil: 206.50 Run tRe truck 45 2 3 Fi05.09 5 els FoI § ‘The amount needed to pay the driver and nthe muckis__" 241-50. Round to nearest cent) ©. Next determine, at 6.5 miles per gallon for 350 miles, how much fuel will be required clistance _ 350 mi my fuel amt. => 6.5mps, : 350 mi, The amount of fuel required is__6.5™mpy, (Do not round, Leave as a fraction.) D. With the amount of fuel known, how much will the fuel cost to make the 350 miles? Fucl amt, x Fuel cost/gatien, = cost of fuel 50 mi. 7 5 _ 350 mi tras - Hea,5 ty 21.45 6.5 mpg, “Clb” mecatotuensie 4494.45 Riot riearastcent) E, Finally we can find the TOTAL cost. Cost to poy deiver/tun truck + cast of fuel = total cost 311.50 + Sqr 45 -f 432.65 : ‘The total cost for the tip ie? 43.2. 65 ‘Rotana to aenrest Bent)