Question

I know there is a step I'm missing here.. It's a word problem but it gives you the equation. Considering the sign-up fee and monthly membership fee for a gym, the equation c = 30m + 25 can be used to represent the total cost of a gym membership for m months. What is the amount of the sign-up fee?
So I'm solving for "m"?

Answer 1

Not at all. Since 30 bucks is how much it costs per month, you can see that this is the monthly cost. the 25 bucks isn't dependent on the number of months and is just a flat fee. You pay it, and that's it. You never pay that again, no matter how many months you go. So that's your one-time signup fee.

Answer 2

Ohhhh I see. So it's just the monthly fee plus the flat fee that you only pay once? So 55$ would be the sign-up fee. It's always the easy ones I end up over thinking on.

Answer 3

Since the question says "the sign-up fee and monthly membership fee" I think it means the sign up fee is when you haven't even gone for 1 month, so plug in m=0 to get just plain 25. Since they say it is a formula for the "total cost" you are giving the total cost of the sign up fee and 1 month of membership. Technically you wouldn't sign up for a gym membership without also signing up for at least 1 month, so I can see your confusion and it's kind of silly, but i hope you understand what I'm getting at here.

Answer 4

Yes :) thank you a lot!