Stephanie is looking to purchase a used boat. She is choosing between two boats. The table shows information about each boat. Stephanie wants to compare the total cost of buying and using these boats on her local lake.

• Stephanie estimates she will drive the boat at least 40 miles per month.
• The average cost of gasoline per gallon in her city is $3.89.
• Stephanie plans on owning the boat for 3 years.
Calculate and explain which boat will cost Stephanie the least to buy and use

1 answer

To calculate the total cost of buying and using each boat, we need to consider the following factors:
1. Purchase Price: The initial cost of buying the boat.
2. Gasoline Cost: The cost of gasoline for driving the boat.
3. Monthly Driving Cost: The cost of driving the boat for 40 miles per month.
4. Ownership Duration: The number of years Stephanie plans to own the boat.

Let's analyze each boat based on these factors:

Boat A:
1. Purchase Price: $14,500
2. Gasoline Cost: The boat's fuel economy is not provided, so we cannot calculate the gasoline cost.
3. Monthly Driving Cost: Since the fuel economy is not provided, we cannot calculate the monthly driving cost.
4. Ownership Duration: 3 years

Boat B:
1. Purchase Price: $17,900
2. Gasoline Cost: The boat's fuel economy is not provided, so we cannot calculate the gasoline cost.
3. Monthly Driving Cost: Since the fuel economy is not provided, we cannot calculate the monthly driving cost.
4. Ownership Duration: 3 years

Unfortunately, without the fuel economy of the boats, we cannot accurately compare the monthly driving costs and gasoline costs. As a result, we cannot determine which boat will cost Stephanie the least to buy and use. To make an informed decision, Stephanie should gather additional information about the fuel economy of each boat and then calculate the total cost of buying and using them.