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Transportation Costs (or Trucker's Dilemma)

Math 1050 College Algebra Project

Co

Mathematics

truck drivin$ 26O miles over a flat interstate at a constant rate of 5O miles per hour gets Z rniles to the
$allon. Fuel costs $3.50 per gallon. For eaqh mile per hour increase in speed, the truck loses a tenth of a
mile per gallon in its mileage. Drivers $et $27.5O per hour in wages and fixed costs for running the truck
amount to $11.33 per hour. What constant speed (between
lO mph and the speed limit of 65 mph) should
the truck drive to minimize the total cost of the tripP
A

I:

To solve a problem like this, it is a good idea to start with calculating an actual example. We will begin by finding
the total cost if the truck is driven at 50 miles per hour. The cost is made up of two components: the fuel cost and the
time cost. Be sure to include the correct units with each value below.
Part

A. Let's start out by finding

--6,L

how long the trip will take.

+- =Z@
D

"lI

. 2 h.r

The length of time required for the trip is

B. Now, with this time known, how much will it cost

tI

to pay the driver and run the truck?

..Z?x.L= ? 2-7.f xs"

2=7

20 I "qL.

The amount needed to pay the driver and run the truck is

C. Next determine,

(Do not round.)

at 7 miles per gallon for 260 miles, how much fuel

will

(Round to nearest cent.)

be required

.Z bO

-t

2b0/1
The amount of fuel required is

D. V/ith the amount of fuel

known, how much

will

2vo/,

(Do nol round. I-eave as afraction.)

the fuel cost to make the 260 miles?

4.q)

The cost of the fuel is

lr0

(Round to nearest cent.)

E. Finally we can find the TOTAL cost.

'7

l.f z- + IZO

The total cost for the trip

is 4?qL

(Round lo nearest cent.)

The preceding process should have illuminated the basic procedure we will use to find the total cost of a trip.
Next we will hnd the total cost if the truck is driven at 65 miles per hour. As in Part I, include the correct units with each
Part

II:

value.

A.

Let's find how long the trip will take.

t -- iloo

,+

1 h

The length of time required for the trip is

B. Now, with this time known, how much will it cost

L1

'5tt1'il)

to pay the driver and run the truck?

ll,1+

The amount needed to pay the driver and run the truck

C. Next, to begin determining the fuel cost, we

(Do not round.)

..+ (

r+

--+,VL

5-,37-

(Round to nearest cent.)

need to find the mileage (miles per gallon of fuel) when the truck

is travelling at 65 miles per hour.

rq

.q

The mileage at 65 miles per hour is

D. With the fuel mileage known,

(Do not round.)

how much fuel will be needed for the 260 miles?

2e"a"
(Do not round. Leave as afraction.)

The amount of fuel required is

E. With the amount of fuel known, how much will the fuel cost to make the 260 miles?

a&Y\at^ zbU
The cost of the fuel is

F. Finally we can find

the

+- x%"s
T I t ,4

(Round to nearest cent.)

TOTAL cost.

l8,

?7 -f lb,I

The total cost for the trip is

u.11

(Round to nearest cent.)

III. We should now have a good process for determining the total cost of a trip for any rate of speed greater than or
equal to 50 miles per hour. Next is to create a Total Cost function using X as the unknown rate in miles per hour.
Part

Simplify your answers and remember to include units. As you work through each step, test your qnswers

by

plugging in

50 mph and then 65 mph and comparing with results from parts I and II.

A. Let's find

dl

how long the trip

will

take.

2.b 0

= q"+

d,.l'

2h
The length of time required for the trip is

B. Now with this time known, how much will it cost to pay the driver and run the truck?

2bn tt 1n
-.-,11,7?
+
X',.

2o

=7,q 7t,,4"ry

The amount of money needed to pay rhe driver and run rhe truck

is 't0O 4 6' t

C. Next, to begin determining the fuel cost, we need to find the mileage (miles per gallon of fuel)hen the truck
is travelling at X miles per hour.

b--?

(- tD' ,l

lz

1 (x-b )"("
1'"lu1

The mileage at X

D. with the fuel mileage

,,12-o"l.l

IS

known, how much fuel will be needed for the 260 miles?

2 6C-.

260

lz-0"1x

20 0,

The amount of fuel required is

E. V/ith

the amount of fuel known, how much

,2-r"o

will

the fuel cost to make the 260 miles?

qt

\7' "1 x Z.5D

'.

The cost of the fuet

lx

i, l2-0'

F. Now we can find the TOTAL cost function. Express your function as C(X) =

DOq ,q)

7(

lL-0"1x
TOTAL Trip Cost Function is

t0q ' rq)

X

qlo
Y'-*

'

12-0"1

o'll

G. The last thing we should do is verify that this is the conect function by evaluating it at 50 mph and 65 mph to
see

if we get the

same values we have previously computed.

c(50) =

thl.lu

c(65) =

?20 ,11

IV.

Assuming the function is modeling correctly, you need to calculate the minimum cost. Graph the Cost Function
and find its minimum point. Sketch your graph here: Have the lower left point represent (50,315). You may use a
graphing utility to help you find the minimum point.

Part

The minimum COST for the trip

i,4?q"-?l

"
440

MPH that minimizes COST is

4zo
0

2o fto (

lw lzD

110 lbo
MPH

Reflective Writing: How did this project change the way you think about real-world math appications? Write at least one
paragraph stating what ideas changed and why. Next, discuss how the math skills that you applied in this project will
impact other classes you will take in your school career? Point to specific parts of the project and your own process in
completing it that might have applications for other classes.

Reflective Writing

I liked how this project used a real life situation with using math, especially with a scenario like this one it
would be helpful to use as a resource in the future when planning out a trip cost for myself. There are
many cases I can use this same application and figure out a cost of a trip. The downside to this is you
have to know a few variables before setting up something up like this. You would need to know the miles
for the trip and also how much gas would be. The variables could change as well so there might not be an
exact number for the cost of the trip but it would be an estimate for sure.
Definitely theres a few applications I could use for my future classes in my school career. I know the
distance formula would be one. Also graphing a function to see the fluctuation of a line. The project has
various parts to it that requires different applications that I could use for my future courses and everyday
life.