Question

Ismael is comparing cell phone plans before upgrading his phone. Ameri-Mobile offers a low activation fee, but a high monthly payment. Cell-U-Later offers a lower monthly rate, but the activation fee is higher. Create a possible algebraic expression for both Ameri-Mobile and Cell-U-Later that shows the amount paid after an unknown amount of months have passed. Justify how you created those expressions, and identify what each term and factor represents in terms of the cell phone plans.

Answer 1

The general form of such an equation for S (total money paid) would be S=Fx+M, where F is the starting price, M is the monthly price, and x is the number of months that have passed. So, Ameri-Mobile might have S=10x+20, whereas Cell-U-Later might have S=20x+10. These would be your two expressions: 10x+20 and 20x+10.

Answer 2

ok ty

Answer 3

Could you justify the answer?, and identitfy the term and factor represents in terms of the cell phone plans.

Answer 4

Actually, my answer is reversed. S=Mx+F, where F=monthly price, F=starting price. The justification would be that the F is only given once, like the starting price. But for every month that goes by, one more M is added. This is what happens in the expression: when x is increased by one, an M is added.

Answer 5

So that is what I would have to say?

Answer 6

So, Ameri-Mobile would be 20x+10, Cell-U-Later would be 10x+20 (sorry for the mistake in my first answer). Yes, that's what you would say. Also, say that x is the number of months that have gone by.

Answer 7

Thank you