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Math 1050 College Algebra Project A truck driving 290 miles over a flat interstate at a constant rate of 50 miles per hour gets 7 miles to the gallon. Fuel costs $3.60 per gallon. For each mile per hour increase in speed, the truck loses a tenth of a mile per gallon in its mileage. Drivers get 829.50 per hour in wages and fixed costs for running the truck amountto $12.15 per hour. What constant speed (between 50 mph and the speed limit of 65 mph) should the truck drive to minimize the total cost of the trip? Part 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 .50miles per hour. TIle cost is made up of two components: the fuel cost and the time cost. Be sure to include the conect units with each value below. Show your work. A. Let's start out bv findina how long the trip will take.

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The length of time required for the trip is

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B. Now. with this time known. how much will it cost to pav the driver and 111n the truck?

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TIle amount needed to pay the driver and 11Inthe truck is ~

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C. Next determine, at 7 miles per gallon for 290 miles. how much fuel will be required.

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TIle amount of fuel required is

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D. With the amount of fuel known. how much will the fuel cost to make the 290 miles?

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TIle cost of the fuel is~ \ L\_q-,--, -'\_L1-'-E. Finallv we can find the TOTAL cost.
to nearest cent.)

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The total cost for the trip is ~

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. (Round to nearest cent.)

Part II: The preceding process should have illuminated the basic procernre we will use to find the total cost of a trip. Next we will find the total cost if the truck is driven at 65 miles per hour. As in Part L include the COllect units with each value. Show your work.
A. Let's find how long the trip will take.

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The length of time required for the trip is

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

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The amount needed to pay the driver and run the truck is<$ \

C. Next to begin determining the fuel cost, we need to find the mileage (miles per gallon of fuel) when the truck is travelling at 65 miles per hour. \ _

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The mileage at 65 miles per hour is

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D. With the fuel mileage known, how much fuel will be needed for the 290 miles?

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The amount of fuel required is

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E. With the amount of fuel known, how much will the fuel cost to make the 290 miles?

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nle cost of the fuel is

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The total cost for the trip is ~

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Part III. We should now have a good process for detenniniug 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. Your answers below should contain onlv one variable. .tl-. Show your work. Then simplitVyour answers and remember to include units, As YOIl work through each step, test .v(J111'a}l.51rerS bv plugging ill 50 nipli and then 65 ntpl: and comparing
witl: res lilts front parts 1 and 11.

A. Let's find how long the trip will take.

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B. Now with this time known, how much will it cost to pay the driver and run the truck? 1.q . ?. q 0 0 L\ \lo S ::: \ 'LD "1 S

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The amount of money needed to pa;.!the driver and run the truck is

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

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The mileage at X miles per hour is D. With the fuel mileage known, how much fuel will be needed for the 290 miles?

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E. With the amount of fuel known, how much will the fuel cost to make the 290 miles?

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

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TOTAL Trip Cost Functi on is

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

see if we get the same values we have previously computed. F(50)

=~
= ~

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F(65)

Part Iv. Assuming the function is modeling correctly. you need to calculate the minimum cost. Graph the Cost Function and find its minunum point.. Sketch your graph here: Have the lower left point represent (50.360). You will need to use a graphing utility to help you find the minimum point. Round your coordinate values to the nearest hundredth.

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COST for the trip is

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Reflective Wi'itiue: Yom' reflective writing will be posted in your e-portfolio along with a scanned copy of the completed project Yom writing will be well written and have coned spelling and grammar. If you need help with your writing, go the the SLCC writing center. You can type or copy your text directly onto your e-portfolio page. If you post it as a link to a tile. then the tile must be in pdf format. First. write a paragraph explaining what the project was about. Do not assume that the reader knows in advance what you did. Explain the overall problem and goal of the assignment in your own words. In the next paragraph. discuss how the math skills that yon applied in this project will impact other classes you will take in your school career. Point to specific parts of the project and your 0\\11 process in completing it that might have applications for other classes. Discuss how the project helped to develop your problem solving skills. Finally. discus'S how this project changed the way you think about real-world math applications. Write at least one paragraph stating what ideas changed and why. If your thinking was not changed. then discuss how the project supported your views about real-world math applications.