Apex Plumbing charges a trip fee of $55, plus $15 for each quarter hour of service. John wrote an equation using t, the total cost of a service call, as a function of h, the number of hours the call lasted. What is the value of the slope in his equation? (How do I set this up?)

Question

Apex Plumbing charges a trip fee of $55, plus $15 for each quarter hour of service.  John wrote an equation using t, the total cost of a service call, as a function of h, the number of hours the call lasted.    What is the value of the slope in his equation?  (How do I set this up?)

mathmale · Answer

Let me ask you this:  $15 per quarter hour equals (how much?) per hour?

anonymous · Answer

60

mathmale · Answer

Right.  So, we can rewrite t=$55 + $15/(quarter hour) as t(h) = $55 + (??)/hour.

mathmale · Answer

Don't let the "t(h)" throw you.  It simply indicates that the total cost of the service call, t, is a function h, the number of hours spent by the workman.

anonymous · Answer

ok i get that so does that mean that the slope is 60. right??????????????

mathmale · Answer

Yes, I believe so.  Good going!  You could make your answer even better by adding units of measurement:  $60/hour.

anonymous · Answer

ok thank you very very much that helped a lot