Chapter 2.2, Problem 24P

The fare for a taxicab is $5 per trip plus $0.50 per mile. The fare for the trip from the airport to the convention center was $11.50. Write and solve an equation to find how many miles the trip is from the airport to the convention center.

To determine

To find:The number of miles from the airport to the convention center.

Answer to Problem 24P

The number of miles from the airport to the convention center is 13 miles.

Explanation of Solution

Given information:The fare for a taxicab is $5 per trip plus $0.50 per mile. The fare for the trip from the airport to the convention center was $11.50.

Calculation: Let the number of miles from the airport to the convention center bex .

For 1 mile the taxicab charges $0.50

Then for x miles the taxicab charges $\$0.50x$

Therefore, total fare $=\$(5+0.50x)$

According to the problem,

  $\begin{array}{l}5+0.50x=11.50\\ \Rightarrow 0.50x=11.50-5\\ \Rightarrow 0.50x=6.50\\ \Rightarrow x=\frac{6.50}{0.50}\\ \Rightarrow x=13\end{array}$

Thus, the distance from the airport to the convention center is 13 miles.