Question

the cost of driving a car includes both fixed costs and mileage costs. assume that it costs $162.10 per month for insurance and car payments and $0.26 per mile gasoline, oil, and routine maintenance. Find the values for m and b so that y=mx+b models the monthly cost of driving the car x miles. what dos the value of b represent?

Answer 1

y = mx + b
y is total cost
m is 0.26 (cost per mile, gas,oil, and maintenance)
x is number of miles
b = 162.10 (cost per month for insurance and car payments

y = 0.26x + 162.10 <===here is the equation
Do you understand ?

Answer 2

I'm new to this. I really don'tr know where to begin in order to solve.

Answer 3

Look at what I did and tell me what you don't understand ?

Answer 4

Not sure of the steps to follow to find the answer to m or b.

Answer 5

Are you saying that the answer for m is 0.26 and b is 162.10

Answer 6

The question asks for the value of mx and b.
m = 0.26 with x being undefined number of miles.
b = monthly cost of the car.

Answer 7

let me rephrase that....y = the total cost (gas, car payment,maintenance, etc.
b is just the cost of the car payment and insurance.
m is the cost per mile, gas, oil and stuff like that (.26)
x being the number of miles (which is not given)

Answer 8

Thanks for trying... I still don't know how to solve for m or b.

Answer 9

@Hero ...can you help me explain this ?

Answer 10

hold on taepoohwae.....Hero is better at explaining then I am. He will be here soon

Answer 11

@Hero .....help

Answer 12

@ParthKohli ....can you help me explain this ?

Answer 13

taepoohwae doesn't seem to understand ...I am not really good at explaining

Answer 14

Start with ignoring the \(y = mx + b\) thingy. It's of no use.

So you need \(0.26\) for one mile. Then you need \(0.26 \times \text{number of miles driven}\) throughout the month. Assume that \(m\) is the number of miles you drive, then \(0.26m\) is the money you need. You write \(y = 0.26m\) where \(y\) is the cost.

STOP RIGHT THERE!

You need \(162.10\) for maintenance, so it'd always be there added to the costs like a ninja. That'd make \(0.26m + 162.10\) as the total money you need

Answer 15

Oh...your good, you should be a teacher

Answer 16

Actually let's just say that the number of miles is \(x\). Then you have \(y = \color{#C00}{m}x + \color{#AE9}{b}\)

Answer 17

\[y = \color{#C00}{m}x + \color{#AE5}{b}\]\[y = \color{#C00}{0.26}x + \color{#AE3}{162.10}\]

Answer 18

maybe taepoohwae will understand now....thx ParthKohli

Answer 19

thanks!

Answer 20

your welcome :)