Problem 76 - College Algebra

Question

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

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The cost of renting a bicycle for 3 hours is $55.

Step 1: Formulate the word problem

A bicycle shop rents out bicycles at a rate of $15 per hour plus a $10 initial fee regardless of how many hours the bicycle is rented. Find out cost of renting a bicycle for 3 hours.

Step 2: Translate word problem into a linear equation

Let's denote the cost of renting a bicycle for hours as \(y\), and the duration of renting a bicycle as \(x\). Hence, according to the problem, the cost can be modeled by the equation \(y = 15x + 10\). We are looking for the cost of renting a bicycle for 3 hours, so we need to find the value of \(y\) when \(x = 3\).

Step 3: Solve the equation

Substituting \(x = 3\) into the equation, we get \(y = 15 * 3 + 10 = 55\).