Question
A caterer charges a fixed cost for preparing a dinner plus an additional cost for each person served. You know that the cost for 100 students will be $750 and the cost for 150 students will be $1050. Find the caterer's fixed cost and the cost per student served.
Answers
Reiny
Look at it as being given two ordered pairs
(100,750) and (150,1050)
let's find the equation in the form
y = mx + b, (b will be the fixed cost and m the cost per student)
slope = m = (1050-750)/(150-100) = 6
using (100,750) ...
750 = 6(100) = b
b = 150
then y = 6x + 150
(check: if x = 150, y = 6(150) + 150 = 1050 , YEAH
so the fixed cost is $150, cost per student is $6
(100,750) and (150,1050)
let's find the equation in the form
y = mx + b, (b will be the fixed cost and m the cost per student)
slope = m = (1050-750)/(150-100) = 6
using (100,750) ...
750 = 6(100) = b
b = 150
then y = 6x + 150
(check: if x = 150, y = 6(150) + 150 = 1050 , YEAH
so the fixed cost is $150, cost per student is $6