The Cost of Cell Phone Plans

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 43 views

**Exercise 1: Nosi's Bursary Decision** =====================================

Introduction

Nosi has been offered a bursary to study Film and Multimedia Studies at City Varsity in Cape Town. However, she faces a challenge: she does not have her own computer, and she will need a cell phone with unlimited browsing to complete her studies. In this exercise, we will help Nosi make an informed decision by analyzing the costs of three different cell phone plans.

The Cost of Cell Phone Plans

Plan	Monthly Cost	Data Limit	Unlimited Browsing
A	R 500	1 GB	No
B	R 800	5 GB	No
C	R 1 200	10 GB	Yes

Discussion

Mathematics Behind the Plans

To make an informed decision, Nosi needs to consider the costs and benefits of each plan. Let's analyze the data:

Plan A costs R 500 per month, with a data limit of 1 GB. This means that Nosi will have to pay extra for any data usage above 1 GB.
Plan B costs R 800 per month, with a data limit of 5 GB. This is a more expensive option, but it offers more data than Plan A.
Plan C costs R 1 200 per month, with a data limit of 10 GB and unlimited browsing. This is the most expensive option, but it offers the most flexibility and convenience.

Mathematical Formulas

To calculate the cost-effectiveness of each plan, we can use the following formulas:

Cost per GB = Monthly Cost / Data Limit
Cost per GB (unlimited) = Monthly Cost / 1 (since there is no data limit)

Using these formulas, we can calculate the cost per GB for each plan:

Plan A: R 500 / 1 GB = R 500 per GB
Plan B: R 800 / 5 GB = R 160 per GB
Plan C: R 1 200 / 10 GB = R 120 per GB (unlimited)

Conclusion

Based on the calculations, Plan C is the most cost-effective option, with a cost per GB of R 120. However, Nosi needs to consider her own needs and usage patterns before making a decision. If she uses a lot of data, Plan C may be the best option. But if she uses less data, Plan A or Plan B may be more cost-effective.

Q&A

Q: What is the monthly cost of Plan A?

A: The monthly cost of Plan A is R 500.

Q: What is the data limit of Plan B?

A: The data limit of Plan B is 5 GB.

Q: Is Plan C the most cost-effective option?

A: Yes, Plan C is the most cost-effective option, with a cost per GB of R 120.

Q: What is the cost per GB of Plan A?

A: The cost per GB of Plan A is R 500 per GB.

Q: What is the cost per GB of Plan B?

A: The cost per GB of Plan B is R 160 per GB.

Q: What is the cost per GB of Plan C?

A: The cost per GB of Plan C is R 120 per GB (unlimited).

Q: How can Nosi make an informed decision about which plan to choose?

A: Nosi can make an informed decision by considering her own needs and usage patterns, as well as the costs and benefits of each plan.

Q: What is the most important factor to consider when choosing a cell phone plan?

A: The most important factor to consider is the cost per GB, as this will determine how much Nosi will pay for each GB of data used.