Finding the Number of Minutes

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 125 views

In this problem, we are given a bill for $37.50 and asked to find the number of minutes used. To solve this, we need to understand the cost per minute and how it relates to the total bill.

Cost per Minute

The cost per minute is given by the equation $y = \frac{3}{5}x + 1$ . Here, $y$ represents the cost in dollars and $x$ represents the number of minutes. The slope of this line is $\frac{3}{5}$ , which means that for every additional minute, the cost increases by $0.60. The $y$ -intercept is $1, which means that if no minutes are used, the cost is $1.

Graphing the Line

To graph the line, we can use the slope-intercept form of the equation: $y = mx + b$ . In this case, $m = \frac{3}{5}$ and $b = 1$ . We can plot the $y$ -intercept at $(0, 1)$ and then use the slope to find other points on the line.

Finding the Number of Minutes

Now that we have the equation and the graph, we can use it to find the number of minutes used. We are given that the total bill is $37.50, so we can set up the equation:

\frac{3}{5}x + 1 = 37.50

To solve for $x$ , we can subtract 1 from both sides:

\frac{3}{5}x = 36.50

Next, we can multiply both sides by $\frac{5}{3}$ to isolate $x$ :

x = 36.50 \times \frac{5}{3}

x = 61

Therefore, the number of minutes used is 61.

Conclusion

In this problem, we used the equation $y = \frac{3}{5}x + 1$ to find the number of minutes used given a bill of $37.50. We graphed the line and used it to solve for $x$ . The final answer is 61 minutes.

Step-by-Step Solution

Understand the cost per minute: The cost per minute is given by the equation $y = \frac{3}{5}x + 1$ .
Graph the line: We can use the slope-intercept form of the equation to graph the line.
Find the number of minutes: We can use the equation to find the number of minutes used given a bill of $37.50.
Solve for x: We can solve for $x$ by subtracting 1 from both sides and then multiplying both sides by $\frac{5}{3}$ .

Key Concepts

Cost per minute: The cost per minute is given by the equation $y = \frac{3}{5}x + 1$ .
Graphing the line: We can use the slope-intercept form of the equation to graph the line.
Finding the number of minutes: We can use the equation to find the number of minutes used given a bill of $37.50.

Mathematical Operations

Multiplication: We can multiply both sides of the equation by $\frac{5}{3}$ to isolate $x$ .
Subtraction: We can subtract 1 from both sides of the equation to isolate the term with $x$ .

Real-World Applications

Cost calculation: This problem can be used to calculate the cost of a service or product based on the number of minutes used.
Time calculation: This problem can be used to calculate the number of minutes used based on a given cost.
Q&A: Understanding the Cost per Minute =====================================

In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions about the cost per minute and how to use the equation $y = \frac{3}{5}x + 1$ to find the number of minutes used.

Q: What is the cost per minute?

A: The cost per minute is given by the equation $y = \frac{3}{5}x + 1$ . This means that for every additional minute, the cost increases by $0.60.

Q: How do I graph the line?

A: To graph the line, we can use the slope-intercept form of the equation: $y = mx + b$ . In this case, $m = \frac{3}{5}$ and $b = 1$ . We can plot the $y$ -intercept at $(0, 1)$ and then use the slope to find other points on the line.

Q: How do I find the number of minutes used?

A: To find the number of minutes used, we can use the equation $y = \frac{3}{5}x + 1$ and set $y$ equal to the total bill. We can then solve for $x$ to find the number of minutes used.

Q: What if I have a different cost per minute?

A: If you have a different cost per minute, you can simply replace the slope in the equation $y = \frac{3}{5}x + 1$ with your own cost per minute. For example, if the cost per minute is $0.50, the equation would be $y = \frac{1}{2}x + 1$ .

Q: Can I use this equation for other types of costs?

A: Yes, you can use this equation for other types of costs as long as you know the cost per unit and the total cost. For example, if you know the cost per pound of a product and the total weight of the product, you can use this equation to find the total cost.

Q: How do I calculate the cost per minute if I don't know it?

A: If you don't know the cost per minute, you can use the equation $y = mx + b$ and the total bill to find the cost per minute. You can then use this cost per minute to find the number of minutes used.

Q: Can I use a calculator to solve this problem?

A: Yes, you can use a calculator to solve this problem. Simply plug in the values for the total bill and the cost per minute, and the calculator will give you the number of minutes used.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect cost per minute: Make sure to use the correct cost per minute in the equation.
Incorrect total bill: Make sure to use the correct total bill in the equation.
Incorrect calculation: Make sure to perform the correct calculation to find the number of minutes used.

Tips and Tricks

Use a calculator: Using a calculator can help you avoid mistakes and make the calculation easier.
Check your work: Make sure to check your work to ensure that you have the correct answer.
Use the equation: The equation $y = \frac{3}{5}x + 1$ is a powerful tool for finding the number of minutes used. Make sure to use it correctly.

Real-World Applications

Cost calculation: This equation can be used to calculate the cost of a service or product based on the number of minutes used.
Time calculation: This equation can be used to calculate the number of minutes used based on a given cost.
Budgeting: This equation can be used to help with budgeting by calculating the cost of a service or product based on the number of minutes used.