Problem 100 - Prealgebra

Question

On a recent bill, PGE charged \$0.11531 per Kwh for the first 333 Kwh of electrical power used. If a household used 312 Kwh of power, what was their electrical bill?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The electrical bill was $35.97.

Step 1: Identify the Rate Per Kwh

The rate charged by PGE for the first 333 Kwh is given as $0.11531 per Kwh.

Step 2: Determine the Power Used

The household used 312 Kwh of electrical power.

Step 3: Calculate the Total Cost

To find the total cost of the electrical bill, multiply the amount of power used (312 Kwh) by the rate charged per Kwh. The formula is \( \text{Total Cost} = \text{Kwh Used} \times \text{Rate per Kwh} \). \[ \text{Total Cost} = 312 \times 0.11531 \]

Step 4: Perform the Calculation

Calculate using the formula from step 3: 312 multiplied by 0.11531 gives 35.97072. Therefore, the electrical bill is $35.97 after rounding to two decimal places.

Key Concepts

Electricity Bill Calculation

Calculating your electricity bill can be simple if you understand the basic components involved.
Whether you're interested in managing your power expenses or understanding how much energy you consume, having a grasp on this calculation is essential.

• First, identify the rate per unit of power consumption (usually Kwh or kilowatt-hours), as stipulated by your power provider.
• Next, determine the amount of power your household has consumed over a billing cycle.
• Finally, multiply the unit rate by the amount of power used to get the total cost.

In our example, the rate is given for the first 333 Kwh. Since the household used 312 Kwh, a straightforward calculation determines the bill. Simply combine these steps to find the amount you owe.

Multiplication

Multiplication in the context of calculating bills involves combining two quantities: the rate and the number of units consumed.
This mathematical operation forms the backbone of many calculations, not just those involving utility bills.

• In practical scenarios, think of multiplication as a repeated addition. If you're using a certain rate for many units, you're essentially adding the rate, over and over, for each unit.
• To find the total bill, multiply the number of units used with the rate per unit.
• In math terms, if 'a' is the number of units and 'b' is the rate, then total amount is 'a × b'.

For our specific electricity bill problem, multiplying 312 by 0.11531 gives us the total cost.

Rates and Units

Understanding rates and units is crucial for effective electricity bill calculations.
The rate is what you're charged, often in terms of currency per energy unit like kilowatt-hours (Kwh). Units represent the measure of electricity you've used in this cycle.

• A rate is typically predefined by the electricity provider and can vary depending on your consumption bracket or time of use.
• Units, in this case, Kwh, are accumulated based on your electricity consumption within the billing period.
• Equipped with these two pieces of information, you can calculate costs efficiently by multiplying them.

Keep an eye on how the rates may change based on usage or additional fees, as they can impact your final bill significantly.