Question
The Reed and the Merrill families are comparing their utility costs for the past month. The following is a list of the appliances that the families are using to make their comparisons:
Reed Family Appliances
Merrill Family Appliances
Gas range
5 cents per day
Electric range
13 cents per day
Gas dryer - 1 load per day
10 cents per load
Gas dryer - 1 load per day
10 cents per load
Electric water heater
90 cents per day
Gas water heater
40 cents per day
Typical later model refrigerator
16 cents per day
Energy Star-labeled refrigerator
12 cents per day
Assuming that the families use the same appliances in the same way, who spends more to run these appliances in a given 30 day period and by how much?
a.
The Reed family spends $13.80 more than the Merrill family.
b.
The Reed family spends $0.46 more than the Merrill family.
c.
The Merrill family spends $58.80 more than the Reed family.
d.
The Merrill family spends $18.60 more than the Reed family.
Please select the best answer from the choices provided
A
B
C
D
Reed Family Appliances
Merrill Family Appliances
Gas range
5 cents per day
Electric range
13 cents per day
Gas dryer - 1 load per day
10 cents per load
Gas dryer - 1 load per day
10 cents per load
Electric water heater
90 cents per day
Gas water heater
40 cents per day
Typical later model refrigerator
16 cents per day
Energy Star-labeled refrigerator
12 cents per day
Assuming that the families use the same appliances in the same way, who spends more to run these appliances in a given 30 day period and by how much?
a.
The Reed family spends $13.80 more than the Merrill family.
b.
The Reed family spends $0.46 more than the Merrill family.
c.
The Merrill family spends $58.80 more than the Reed family.
d.
The Merrill family spends $18.60 more than the Reed family.
Please select the best answer from the choices provided
A
B
C
D
Answers
GPT-4o mini
To compare the utility costs for the Reed and Merrill families, we first need to calculate the total expenses for each family over a 30-day period.
**Reed Family Appliances Costs:**
1. **Gas range:** 5 cents per day
- Monthly cost: \( 5 \text{ cents/day} \times 30 \text{ days} = 150 \text{ cents} = 1.50 \text{ dollars} \)
2. **Gas dryer:** 10 cents per load (1 load per day)
- Monthly cost: \( 10 \text{ cents/load} \times 30 \text{ loads} = 300 \text{ cents} = 3.00 \text{ dollars} \)
3. **Electric water heater:** 90 cents per day
- Monthly cost: \( 90 \text{ cents/day} \times 30 \text{ days} = 2700 \text{ cents} = 27.00 \text{ dollars} \)
4. **Refrigerator:** 16 cents per day
- Monthly cost: \( 16 \text{ cents/day} \times 30 \text{ days} = 480 \text{ cents} = 4.80 \text{ dollars} \)
Total cost for Reed Family over 30 days:
- \( 1.50 + 3.00 + 27.00 + 4.80 = 36.30 \text{ dollars} \)
**Merrill Family Appliances Costs:**
1. **Electric range:** 13 cents per day
- Monthly cost: \( 13 \text{ cents/day} \times 30 \text{ days} = 390 \text{ cents} = 3.90 \text{ dollars} \)
2. **Gas dryer:** 10 cents per load (1 load per day)
- Monthly cost: \( 10 \text{ cents/load} \times 30 \text{ loads} = 300 \text{ cents} = 3.00 \text{ dollars} \)
3. **Gas water heater:** 40 cents per day
- Monthly cost: \( 40 \text{ cents/day} \times 30 \text{ days} = 1200 \text{ cents} = 12.00 \text{ dollars} \)
4. **Energy Star-labeled refrigerator:** 12 cents per day
- Monthly cost: \( 12 \text{ cents/day} \times 30 \text{ days} = 360 \text{ cents} = 3.60 \text{ dollars} \)
Total cost for Merrill Family over 30 days:
- \( 3.90 + 3.00 + 12.00 + 3.60 = 22.50 \text{ dollars} \)
**Comparing the total costs:**
- Reed Family: \( 36.30 \text{ dollars} \)
- Merrill Family: \( 22.50 \text{ dollars} \)
**Difference in cost:**
- \( 36.30 - 22.50 = 13.80 \text{ dollars} \)
Thus, the Reed family spends **$13.80 more than the Merrill family**.
**The correct answer is:**
A. The Reed family spends $13.80 more than the Merrill family.
**Reed Family Appliances Costs:**
1. **Gas range:** 5 cents per day
- Monthly cost: \( 5 \text{ cents/day} \times 30 \text{ days} = 150 \text{ cents} = 1.50 \text{ dollars} \)
2. **Gas dryer:** 10 cents per load (1 load per day)
- Monthly cost: \( 10 \text{ cents/load} \times 30 \text{ loads} = 300 \text{ cents} = 3.00 \text{ dollars} \)
3. **Electric water heater:** 90 cents per day
- Monthly cost: \( 90 \text{ cents/day} \times 30 \text{ days} = 2700 \text{ cents} = 27.00 \text{ dollars} \)
4. **Refrigerator:** 16 cents per day
- Monthly cost: \( 16 \text{ cents/day} \times 30 \text{ days} = 480 \text{ cents} = 4.80 \text{ dollars} \)
Total cost for Reed Family over 30 days:
- \( 1.50 + 3.00 + 27.00 + 4.80 = 36.30 \text{ dollars} \)
**Merrill Family Appliances Costs:**
1. **Electric range:** 13 cents per day
- Monthly cost: \( 13 \text{ cents/day} \times 30 \text{ days} = 390 \text{ cents} = 3.90 \text{ dollars} \)
2. **Gas dryer:** 10 cents per load (1 load per day)
- Monthly cost: \( 10 \text{ cents/load} \times 30 \text{ loads} = 300 \text{ cents} = 3.00 \text{ dollars} \)
3. **Gas water heater:** 40 cents per day
- Monthly cost: \( 40 \text{ cents/day} \times 30 \text{ days} = 1200 \text{ cents} = 12.00 \text{ dollars} \)
4. **Energy Star-labeled refrigerator:** 12 cents per day
- Monthly cost: \( 12 \text{ cents/day} \times 30 \text{ days} = 360 \text{ cents} = 3.60 \text{ dollars} \)
Total cost for Merrill Family over 30 days:
- \( 3.90 + 3.00 + 12.00 + 3.60 = 22.50 \text{ dollars} \)
**Comparing the total costs:**
- Reed Family: \( 36.30 \text{ dollars} \)
- Merrill Family: \( 22.50 \text{ dollars} \)
**Difference in cost:**
- \( 36.30 - 22.50 = 13.80 \text{ dollars} \)
Thus, the Reed family spends **$13.80 more than the Merrill family**.
**The correct answer is:**
A. The Reed family spends $13.80 more than the Merrill family.