Problem 50 - Introductory Algebra for College Students

Question

Write an original word problem that can be solved using a linear equation. Then solve the problem.

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The total cost for x number of books from the bookstore can be determined by the linear equation \( C = 5x + 2.50 \).

Step 1: Formulate the Word Problem

A bookstore sells books for a flat rate of $5 per book plus a one-time service fee of $2.50. How much would it cost to buy x number of books? The problem here is to calculate the total cost for x books, taking into account both the cost per book and the one-time service fee.

Step 2: Set Up the Linear Equation

The total cost (C) is composed of the cost per book ($5) multiplied by the number of books (x) and the one-time service fee ($2.50). So, the linear equation representing this situation is \( C = 5x + 2.50 \).

Step 3: Solve the Linear Equation

To solve this equation, we need to know the number of books (x). But since x can represent any quantity of books, the provided formula \( C = 5x + 2.50 \) is the general solution to this problem. To get a numerical result, we would need a specific quantity of books so we can substitute and calculate the total cost.