A small publishing company is planning to publish a new book. The production costs will include one-time fixed costs (such as editing) and variable costs (such as printing). The one-time fixed costs will total $21,021. The variable costs will be $12.25 per book. The publisher will sell the finished product to bookstores at a price of $20.50 per book. How many books must the publisher produce and sell so that the production costs will equal the money from sales?

Question

misty1212 · Answer

HI!!

misty1212 · Answer

if you publish say $n$ books then the total cost will be 
$$12.25n+21021$$ right?

misty1212 · Answer

this is where you say "yes of course" or "how did you get that?"

anonymous · Answer

yes but how did you get that ?

misty1212 · Answer

the fixed cost is fixed, you have to pay it no matter how many you print

misty1212 · Answer

if you print one book you pay the fixed cost plus 12.25 so $$12.25+21021$$ if you print two books you have to pay two times 12.25 and the fixed cost so 
$$12.25\times 2+21021$$

misty1212 · Answer

and if you print $n$ books you have to pay $$12.25\times n+21021$$

misty1212 · Answer

now for each book you sell, you make 20.50 so for n books you make $$20.50n$$ dollars

misty1212 · Answer

you want to know where they are equal so set 
$$12.25n+21021=20.50n$$ and solve for $n$