Write and solve a system of equations for the following:
Ericka is choosing between two cell phone plans that offer the same amount of minutes. VeriFone has a plan that charges $39.99 per month with additional minutes costing $0.45 per minute. AT&Q has a plan that costs $44.99 per month with additional minutes costing $0.40. How many minutes, m, would Ericka need to use for the two plans to cost the same amount?
Please help!
really? Just set the two plans equal
39.99 + 0.45m = 44.99 + 0.40m
To solve this problem, we need to set up a system of equations.
Let's assume Ericka uses m minutes in a month.
For the VeriFone plan, the total cost will be the monthly charge of $39.99 plus the cost of additional minutes, which is $0.45 per minute. So the total cost for VeriFone is:
Cost of VeriFone = $39.99 + $0.45m
Similarly, for the AT&Q plan, the total cost will be the monthly charge of $44.99 plus the cost of additional minutes, which is $0.40 per minute. So the total cost for AT&Q is:
Cost of AT&Q = $44.99 + $0.40m
To find the number of minutes Ericka needs to use for the two plans to cost the same amount, we need to set up an equation where the cost of VeriFone is equal to the cost of AT&Q.
Setting up the equation:
$39.99 + $0.45m = $44.99 + $0.40m
Now let's solve for 'm'.
First, we can simplify the equation by combining like terms:
$0.45m - $0.40m = $44.99 - $39.99
$0.05m = $5.00
To isolate 'm', we can divide both sides of the equation by $0.05:
m = $5.00 / $0.05
m = 100
Therefore, Ericka would need to use 100 minutes for both plans to cost the same amount.