Math 1050 Transportation Costs

(or truckers Dilemma)

By Graeme Perriton

Question
A truck driving 260 miles over a flat interstate at a
constant rate of 50 miles per hour gets 7 miles to the
gallon. Fuel costs $3.50 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 $27.50 per hour
in wages and fixed costs for running the truck amount
to $11.33 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 1

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 mph. 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.

260 miles / 50 mph = 5.2 hours

The length of time required for the

trip is 5.2 hours.

A. Lets start out by finding

how long the trip will take.

B. Now with the time

known, how much will it cost
to pay the driver and run the
truck?
$11.33 x 5.2 hours=$58.92
$27.50 x 5.2 hours=$143
$58.92+$143=$201.92
The amount needed to pay the
driver and run the truck is
$201.92

C. Next determine, at 7
mpg for 260 miles, how
much fuel will be required.

The amount of fuel required is

260/7 gallons.

D. With the amount of fuel

known, how much will the
fuel cost to make the 260
miles?

E. Finally we can find the

total cost.

$130+$201.92=$331.92

(260/7) x $3.50=$130
The cost of the fuel is $130.

The total cost for the trip is $331.92

Part 2

The preceding process should

have illuminated the basic
procedure 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
mph. As in Part 1, include
the correct units with each
value.

A. Lets find how long the trip will

take.

260 miles / 65 mph = 4 hours

The length of time required for the
trip is 4 hours.

B. Now with the time

known, how much will it cost
to pay the driver and run the
truck?
$11.33 x 4 hours=$45.32
$27.50 x 4 hours=$110
$45.32+$110=$155.32
The amount needed to pay the
driver and run the truck is
$155.32

C. Next to begin
determining the fuel cost,
we need to find the mileage
(miles per gallon of fuel
when the truck is traveling
at 65 mph.

.1 x 15=1.5

7-1.5=5.5

The mileage at 65 mph is 5.5 mpg.

D. With the mileage known,

how much fuel will be needed
for the 260 miles?

E. With the amount of fuel

known, how much will the
fuel cost to make the 260
miles?
(260/5.5) x $3.50=$165.45

The amount of fuel required is

260/5.5 gallons.
The cost of fuel is $165.45

F. Finally we can find the

total cost.

$155.32+$165.45=$320.77

The total cost for the trip is $320.77

Part 3

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 mph.
Simplify your answers and
remember to include units.

A. Lets find how long the trip will

take.

260 miles / X mph = 260/X hours

The length of time required for the
trip is 260/X hours.

B. Now with the time

known, how much will it cost
to pay the driver and run the
truck?
($11.33 x 260/X)+($27.50 x 260/X)
The amount of money needed to pay
the driver and run the truck is $38.83
(260/X).

C. Next to begin
determining the fuel cost,
we need to find the mileage
(miles per gallon of fuel
when the truck is traveling
at X mph.

The mileage at X miles per hour is

7-(X-50).1

D. With the mileage known,

how much fuel will be needed
for the 260 miles?

The amount of fuel required is

260/(7-(X-50).1) gallons.

E. With the amount of fuel

known, how much will the
fuel cost to make the 260
miles?

The cost of fuel is $3.50(260/(7-(X50).1)

F. Finally we can find the

total cost function. Express
your function as C(X)=

G. The last thing we should do is

verify that this is the correct
function by evaluating it at 50 mph
and 65 mph to see if we get the same
values we have previously computed.
C(50)=((260/7-(50-50).1)+$38.83(260/50)
C(50)=$331.92
C(65)=((260/7-(65-50).1)+$38.83(260/65)

The total trip cost function is C(X)=((260/7-(X50).1)+$38.83(260/X)

C(65)=$320.65

Part 4

Assuming the function is

modeling correctly, you need
to calculate the minimum
cost. Graph the Cost
Function and find its
minimum point.Sketch the
graph: have the lower left
point represent (50,315).
YOu may use a graphing
utility to help you find the
minimum point.

The minimum cost for the trip is

$319.71

The mph that minimizes cost is

61.56 mph.

Graph-->

Reflective
Writing

Conclusion
This project challenged me to apply math to the real-world. I applied my knowledge
in math to a situation where I found the most cost efficient way to drive a truck. By
knowing how to perform these equations, I was able to calculate a way to save the
most money after the trip. This project changed my view on how simple it is to
apply math to the real-world, because some of these problems took longer than I had
expected them to. I will be able to take these skills and apply them to my career and
other school classes. When I am traveling to school, or between sets as I film
movies, I will be able to calculate how fast I should drive to save the most money.