f pho ae eee ~ Vs Senn Rowe Transportation Costs (or Trucker’s Dilemma) 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 $29.50 per hour in wages and fixed costs for running the truck ‘amount to $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, itis 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. Show your work. ‘A, Let's start out by finding how long the trip will take The length of time required forthe rp is_ > 8 (Bo not round) B. Now, with this time known, how much will it cost to pay the driver and run the truck? The amount needed to pay te driver and un he acs 6. ron to nears com, C. Next determine, at 7 miles per gallon for 290 miles, how much fuel will be required. ‘The amount of fuel required is_'] | 7/7 (Do not round. Leave as a fraction.) D. With the amount of fuel known, how much will the fuel cost to make the 290 miles? The cost of the fuel is_ 7) | FF / 44 (Round to nearest cent.) &:Fnly snide TOTAL cost nA Bex ils piu b 7047 Bg The total cost forthe tip's_ LB 240.71. _. Round to nearest cent) F, Write a paragraph explaining the process you went through in order to find the total cost for the trp. T Extupelatel eguativns tran ritles pe pale miles pre hear Larhas mere miles =x and howe ey 50 hour weul 2 Thea plas-4 wi tar none 592 3 gd pan,pg Part II; 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 miles per hour. As in Part I, include the correct units with each value, Show your work. ‘A. Lets fndhow ing tetip wil uke”, gg’ FB oes 1 Thelenghoftime required forthe wipis__ 57, Do mot rownd, Leave a a faction) B. Now, with this time known, how much will it cost to pay the driver and run the truck? ‘The amount needed to pay the ver and nun the truckis_ 41-7 /-62 Round nearest com) 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 miles per hour. eG 5x. Por sb) ‘The mileage at 65 miles per hour is_ 5-8 apg (Do not round) D. With the fuel mileage known, how much fuel will be needed for the 290 miles? 2g ZIP , 2 ‘The amount of fuel required is (Do not round. Leave as a fraction.) E. With the amount of fuel known, how much will the fuel cost to make the 290 miles? The cost ofthe fuetis_ 194. 32. (Round to nearest cent) . F, Finally we can find the TOTAL cost H\z\-62 2 sy ea (oy Theta cost tortheeipis 275. 6 Y Round nearest cont) G. Explain why there was a change in total cost from Part I to Part I? Do you expect this change in total cost to continue as, ‘you continue to increase your speed? Why should you expect an optimal speed to reduce total cost? ai voribhe thes Blece the ost te in crepe at gon de of vatides will probe a prablae oe a. Thee Piece hEPart IIL 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 Xas the unknown rate in miles per hour. Your answers below should contain only one variable, X. Show your work. Then simplify your answers and remember to include units. As you work through each step, test your answers by plugging in 50 mph and then 65 mph and comparing with results from parts Land I. A. Let’s find how long the trip will take. 290 ‘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? éSss “The amount of money needed to pay the driver and un he tuck 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 X miles per hour. 20% . 710 7 (4 -50 10 7-75 Be x_ 5) 7-6-5) 12-5 vss “bong terpenes 2 D. With the fuel mileage known, how much fuel will be needed for the 290 miles? (7 Ca-5) a e Bae: FS) eae 2agP ‘The amount of fuel required is Os o , With the amount of fie known, how much wl the fel costo make the 290 ils? 2.6 EE 10490 Jzo-* 10440. : . Woke es ‘The cost of the fue is F, Now we can find the TOTAL cost function. Express your Function as C(X) = B823p, 218) A 29969 On 2 95320 51 5 64Om ~ DU Logs) 7 sx BE is neath) _ * ley KE Reser, et lieve) _ nl SZReTHO) 2277 - 2398770. c Ze Rents aie x _an crows gers 4A aE de ey G. The last thing we should do is verify that this isthe correct function by evaluating it at 50 mph and 65 mph to see if we ‘get the same values we have previously computed. > 7-319 —ZGES¥35 0.71 “F008 Fs) -_3 75.64 et 3277(692-2918342 2)>005 ~ 2843340 z 2lesS-— 248(65> eus50-13te 1. How did the insight ftom Part I and Part I lead you towards your solution in Part 11? Part IV. Assuming the function is modeling correctly, you need to calculate the minimum cost. Graph the Cost Function and find its minimum point. Use a graphing utility o cut-and-paste a graph of your Cost Function. Have the lower left point represent (50,360). You will need to use a graphing uility to help you find the minimum point, Round your coordinate values to the nearest hundredth. ‘The minimum COST for the trip is ‘The speed that minimizes CosTis_©2.|Y@ Reflective Writing: Perec rccive wring will be posted in your e-portfolio along with « scanned copy ofthe completed project. Your writing will towel writion and have correct spelling and graminar. If you need help with your writing, go the the SLCC writing center Vousan type or copy your text directly onto your e-portfoli page. If you posit as link toa file, then the ilmust be in pal 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. Inthe next paragraph, discuss how the math skills that you applied in this project will impact other classes you will ake In your school career. Point to specific parts ofthe project and your own process in completing it that might have applications for other classes. Discuss how the project helped to develop your problem solving skills. Finally, discuss how this project changed the way you think about real-world math applications. Write atleast one paragraph stating what ideas changed and why. If your thinking was not changed, then discuss how the projest supported ‘your views about real-world math applications.