Creating the Linear Function

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 79 views

Introduction

In this article, we will explore a real-world problem involving linear functions. The problem involves ordering tickets to a basketball game online, where the total cost is determined by a set price per ticket plus a service fee. We will use this scenario to create a linear function that represents the total cost, denoted as $c$ .

The Problem

Tickets to a basketball game can be ordered online for a set price per ticket plus a $5.50 service fee. The total cost in dollars for ordering 5 tickets is $108.00. We need to find a linear function that represents the total cost, $c$ , when ordering $x$ tickets.

Understanding the Problem

Let's break down the problem and understand the variables involved:

$x$ : The number of tickets ordered
$c$ : The total cost in dollars
$p$ : The set price per ticket (unknown)
$s$ : The service fee (known to be $5.50)

We know that the total cost, $c$ , is the sum of the cost of the tickets and the service fee. Since the service fee is a fixed amount, we can represent it as $5.50x$ , where $x$ is the number of tickets ordered.

Creating the Linear Function

We can now create a linear function that represents the total cost, $c$ . The function will be in the form of $c = px + 5.50x$ , where $p$ is the set price per ticket and $x$ is the number of tickets ordered.

However, we are given that the total cost for ordering 5 tickets is $108.00. We can use this information to find the value of $p$ .

Solving for $p$

We know that $c = 108.00$ when $x = 5$ . We can substitute these values into the linear function:

108.00 = p(5) + 5.50(5)

Simplifying the equation, we get:

108.00 = 5p + 27.50

Subtracting 27.50 from both sides, we get:

80.50 = 5p

Dividing both sides by 5, we get:

p = 16.10

The Linear Function

Now that we have found the value of $p$ , we can write the linear function that represents the total cost, $c$ :

c = 16.10x + 5.50x

Combining like terms, we get:

c = 21.60x

Conclusion

In this article, we used a real-world problem involving tickets to a basketball game to create a linear function that represents the total cost. We found the value of the set price per ticket, $p$ , and used it to write the linear function. The linear function is $c = 21.60x$ , where $c$ is the total cost in dollars and $x$ is the number of tickets ordered.

Example Use Case

Suppose you want to order 10 tickets to a basketball game. Using the linear function, you can calculate the total cost as follows:

c = 21.60(10)

c = 216.00

Therefore, the total cost for ordering 10 tickets is $216.00.

Applications of Linear Functions

Linear functions have many applications in real-world problems, including:

Cost and revenue analysis: Linear functions can be used to model the cost and revenue of a business.
Supply and demand: Linear functions can be used to model the supply and demand of a product.
Optimization: Linear functions can be used to optimize a problem by finding the maximum or minimum value of a function.

Conclusion

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored a real-world problem involving tickets to a basketball game and created a linear function that represents the total cost. We found the value of the set price per ticket, $p$ , and used it to write the linear function. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions related to the problem.

Q&A

Q: What is the set price per ticket?

A: The set price per ticket is $16.10.

Q: What is the service fee?

A: The service fee is $5.50 per ticket.

Q: How do I calculate the total cost of ordering tickets?

A: To calculate the total cost, you can use the linear function: $c = 21.60x$ , where $c$ is the total cost in dollars and $x$ is the number of tickets ordered.

Q: What is the total cost of ordering 10 tickets?

A: Using the linear function, we can calculate the total cost as follows:

c = 21.60(10)

c = 216.00

Therefore, the total cost for ordering 10 tickets is $216.00.

Q: Can I use the linear function to calculate the cost of ordering a fraction of a ticket?

A: No, the linear function is only valid for whole numbers of tickets. If you want to order a fraction of a ticket, you will need to use a different method to calculate the cost.

Q: How do I find the value of the set price per ticket, $p$ ?

A: To find the value of $p$ , you can use the equation:

p = \frac{c - 5.50x}{x}

Where $c$ is the total cost and $x$ is the number of tickets ordered.

Q: What is the application of linear functions in real-world problems?

A: Linear functions have many applications in real-world problems, including:

Cost and revenue analysis: Linear functions can be used to model the cost and revenue of a business.
Supply and demand: Linear functions can be used to model the supply and demand of a product.
Optimization: Linear functions can be used to optimize a problem by finding the maximum or minimum value of a function.

Conclusion

In conclusion, linear functions are a powerful tool for modeling real-world problems. By understanding the concept of linear functions, we can create mathematical models that can be used to solve problems in various fields. In this article, we answered some frequently asked questions related to the problem of ordering tickets to a basketball game. We hope that this article has provided you with a better understanding of linear functions and their applications.

Example Use Cases

Example 1: Calculating the total cost of ordering tickets

Suppose you want to order 15 tickets to a basketball game. Using the linear function, you can calculate the total cost as follows:

c = 21.60(15)

c = 324.00

Therefore, the total cost for ordering 15 tickets is $324.00.

Example 2: Finding the value of the set price per ticket

Suppose you know that the total cost of ordering 5 tickets is $108.00. You can use the equation:

p = \frac{c - 5.50x}{x}

To find the value of $p$ :

p = \frac{108.00 - 5.50(5)}{5}

p = \frac{108.00 - 27.50}{5}

p = \frac{80.50}{5}

p = 16.10

Therefore, the value of the set price per ticket is $16.10.

Applications of Linear Functions

Linear functions have many applications in real-world problems, including:

Cost and revenue analysis: Linear functions can be used to model the cost and revenue of a business.
Supply and demand: Linear functions can be used to model the supply and demand of a product.
Optimization: Linear functions can be used to optimize a problem by finding the maximum or minimum value of a function.