Name. Date __/i/5 ; i Salt Lake Q Transportation Costs (or Trucker’s Dilemma) come ee Math 1050 College Algebra Project ‘Mathematics Department A truck driving 425 miles over a flat interstate at a constant rate of 50 miles per hour gets 7.5 miles to the gallon. Fuel costs $2.85 per gallon. For each mile per hour increase in speed, the truck loses a tenth of a mile per gallon in its mileage, Drivers get $27.50 per hour in wages and fixed costs for running the truck amount to $10.25 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 I; To solve a problem like this, itis a good idea to start with calculating an actual example. We will begin by finding the total cost if the truck is driven at 50 miles per hour, The cost is made up of two components: the fuel cost and the 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 The length of time required for the trip is ees DusLD (Do not round.) B. Now, with this time known, how much will it cost to pay the diver and run the truck? 8.5 house $ 27.50 per hour le wage 8.5 hu 0, j 5+H8 ‘The amount needed to pay the driver and run the truck is_S)_ 320.28 . (Round to nearest cent) C. Next determing, at 7.5 miles per gallon for 425 miles, how much fuel will be required 5 miles /qallon The amount of fuel required is 5 (Do not round. Leave as a fraction.) D. With the amount of fuel known, how much will the fuel cost to make the 425 miles? 25 pel ion = $16 The cost of the fuel is 116 (Round to nearest cent.) E. Finally we can find the TOTAL cost. 26d x pay and bu by So The total cost for the trip is_f US2.59 (Round to nearest cent)Part Ik: The preceding process should have illuminated the basic procedure we will use to find the total cost of a trp. Next we will find the total cost ifthe truck is driven at 70 miles per hour. As in Part I, include the correct units with each value, A. Let's find how long the trip will take. 425 ‘The length of time required for the trip is (Do not round.) B. Now, with this time known, how much will it cost to pay the driver and run the track? i (423 hou). $27.50 dues wage + 425 hous # 10.25 fuck cont \“75 70 224 .\964 286 The amount needed to pay the driver and run the truckis 8229.20 (Round to nearest cen.) C. Next, to begin determining the fuel cost, we need to find the mileage (miles per gallon of fuel) when the truck is traveling at 70 miles per hour. mph 20m pk gallor 2 miles per gallon = 5.5 mide The mileage at 70 miles per hour is _“>.5 ri ja) Des gal (0(Do not round.) D. With the fuel mileage known, how much fuel will be needed for the 425 miles? 25 males 425 5 ‘The amount of fuel required is (Do not round. Leave as a fraction.) E, With the amount of fuel known, how much will the fuel cost to make the 425 miles? Acorn © $2.85 pet galllon = 220. 2272727 wi mil/gablon ‘The cost of the fuel is § 220 «2 (Round to nearest cent.) F, Finally we can find the TOTAL cost. Aue wage + luck co: Fu % 229.20 +4 The total cost forthe wipis {5 Y49- 4 3 (Round to nearest cent.) So wPart IIL We should now have a good process for determining the total cost of a trip for any rate of speed greater than or equal to 50 miles per hour. Next is to create a Total Cost function using X as the unknown rate in miles per hour. ‘Simplify your answers and remember to include units. As you work through each step, test your answers by plugging in SO mph and then 70 mph and comparing with results from parts Land II. A. Let’ find how long the trip will take. U25 mi ‘The length of time required for the tripis____ Mpnh 'B. Now with this time known, how much will it cost to pay the driver and run the truck? 425 mules |g X mph = La 0837.75 1.50 drive wage + f a“ C. Next, to begin determining the fuel cost, we need to find the mileage (miles per gallon of fuel) when the truck is travelling at X miles per hour. w S “The amount of money needed to pay the driver and run the truck is 7.5 mpg - (x mph -B0mph)(1, mpg) ‘The mileage at X miles per hour is J - |X - 20) | 4a) D. With the fuel mileage known, how much fuel will be needed for the 425 miles? 7.5 mpg - (x mph ‘The amount of fuel required is 5 O)(t E, With the amount of fuel known, how much will the fuel cost to make the 425 miles? —— 032. : 50 mph)(ch meg His ‘The cost of the fuel is F. Now we can find the TOTAL cost function. Express your. ura’ as oom) = r{y) 42S miles yz ¥ mph (x mph. 50 enph) (4,9) yp 425 aG. The last thing we should do is verify that this is the correct function by evaluating it at SO mph and 70 mph to see if we get the same values we have previously computed. crm =BU 44. YQ Part IV. Assuming the funetion is modeling correctly, you need to calculate the minimum cost. Graph the Cost Function and find its minimum point, Sketch your graph here: Have the lower left point represent (50,400). You may use a graphing utility such as desmos.com/caleulator to help you find the minimum point. The minimum COST for the trip is HL 48. 2904, 1¢ MPH that minimizes COST is_ 6 mph MPH Reflective Writing: How did this project change the way you think about real-world math applications? Did the process of solving this problem seem simpler when it was broken down into smaller, manageable steps? Write at least one paragraph stating what ideas changed and why. Next, discuss how the math skills that you applied in this project will impact other classes you will take in your school career. 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