Kasey Johnstone

Transportation Costs
Math 1050 College Algebra Project

A truck driving 260 miles over a flat interstate at a constant rate of 50 miles per hour gets 7 miles to
the gallon. Fuel costs $3.50 per gallon. For each mile per hour increase in speed, the truck loses a
tenth of a mile per gallon in its mileage. Drivers get $27.50 per hour in wages and fixed costs for
running the truck amount to $11.33 per hour. What constant speed (between 50 mph and the speed
limit of 65 mph) should the truck drive to minimize the total cost of the trip?

Part I: To solve a problem like this, it is a good idea to start with calculating an actual example. We will
begin by finding the total cost if the truck is driven at 50 miles per hour. The cost is made up of two
components: the fuel cost and the time cost. Be sure to include the correct units with each value below.

A. Let’s start out by finding how long the trip will take.

Distance= speed/ time time=distance/ speed 260/50=5.2

The length of time required for the trip is ___5.2 hrs__________. (Do not round.)

B. Now, with this time known, how much will it cost to pay the driver and run the truck?

Driver: 27.50(5.2)= 143 run truck: 11.33(5.2)= 58.92 143+58.92= 201.92

The amount needed to pay the driver and run the truck is_$201.92. _ (Round to nearest cent.)

C. Next determine, at 7 miles per gallon for 260 miles, how much fuel will be required.

260/7

The amount of fuel required is _____260/7 G_____. (Do not round. Leave as a fraction.)

D. With the amount of fuel known, how much will the fuel cost to make the 260 miles?
260/7G (3.50G)= 130

The cost of the fuel is _____$130________________. (Round to nearest cent.)

E. Finally we can find the TOTAL cost.

201.92 + 130= 331.92

Part II: The preceding process should have illuminated the basic procedure we will use to find
the total cost of a trip. Next we will find the total cost if the truck is driven at 65 miles per hour.
As in Part I, include the correct units with each value.
A. Let’s find how long the trip will take.

Time= distance/ speed 260/65= 4

The length of time required for the trip is ______4 hrs________. (Do not round.)

B. Now, with this time known, how much will it cost to pay the driver and run the
truck?

D: 27.50(4)= 110 T: 11.33(4)= 45.32 110+45.32= 155.32

The amount needed to pay the driver and run the truck is _$155.32__. (Round to nearest cent.)

C. Next, to begin determining the fuel cost, we need to find the mileage (miles per
gallon of fuel) when the truck is travelling at 65 miles per hour.
50mph= 7 miles to gallon 65mph- 50mph= 15 mph
Loses a tenth of mpg 15mph(.1)= 1.5 7- 1.5= 5.5

The mileage at 65 miles per hour is ______5.5 mpg________. (Do not round.)

D. With the fuel mileage known, how much fuel will be needed for the 260 miles?

260/5.5

The amount of fuel required is ________260/5.5 G _____________. (Do not round. Leave as a
fraction)

E. With the amount of fuel known, how much will the fuel cost to make the 260 miles?

Fuel costs = $3.50 260/5.5 (3.50)

The cost of the fuel is________$165.45 _________. (Round to nearest cent.)

F. Finally we can find the TOTAL cost.

165.45 + 155.32 = 320.77

The total cost for the trip is _____$320.77__________. (Round to nearest cent.)
 Part III. We should now have a good process for determining the total cost of a trip for any rate
of speed greater than or equal to 50 miles per hour. Next is to create a Total Cost function using
X as the unknown rate in miles per hour. Simplify your answers and remember to include units.
As you work through each step, test your answers by plugging in 50 mph and then 65 mph and
comparing with results from parts I and II.

A. Let’s find how long the trip will take.

The length of time required for the trip is ________260/s hrs_______.

B. Now with this time known, how much will it cost to pay the driver and run
the truck?
Driver: 27.50 27.50+11.33= 38.83 260/s(38.83) Run truck: 11.33

The amount of money needed to pay the driver and run the truck is __10095.80/s___________.

C. Next, to begin determining the fuel cost, we need to find the mileage (miles
per gallon of fuel) when the truck is travelling at X miles per hour.
Mileage - > 7- .1 (x-50)

The mileage at X miles per hour is _____(x-50) 7- .1________.

D. With the fuel mileage known, how much fuel will be needed for the 260
miles?
260/ 7-.1(x-50) = 260/ 12-.1x

The amount of fuel required is ____260/12-.1x__________.

E. With the amount of fuel known, how much will the fuel cost to make the
260 miles?
260/12-.1x ( 3.50)

The cost of the fuel is _______$910/12-.1x________.

F. Now we can find the TOTAL cost function. Express your function as C(X) =
Func. for driver and truck and cost to get 260 miles
10095.80/s + 910/12-.1x

TOTAL Trip Cost Function is ______10095.80/s + 910/12-.1x ________________

G. The last thing we should do is verify that this is the correct function by
evaluating it at 50 mph and 65 mph to see if we get the same values we
have previously computed.
F(50)= 10095.80/(50) + 910/ 12- .1(50)

F(50) = _________$331.91____________
 F(65)= 10095.80/(65) + 910/12-.1(65)

F(65) = ___________$320.77____________

Part IV. Assuming the function is modeling correctly, you need to calculate the minimum cost.
Graph the Cost Function and find its minimum point. Sketch your graph here: Have the lower left point
represent (50,315). You may use a graphing utility to help you find the minimum point.

The minimum COST for the trip is _319.71____

330

325
Cost ($)

320

315

The MPH that minimizes COST is _61.56____.

50 55 60 65

MPH

Reflective Writing: How did this project change the way you think about real-world math
applications? Write at least one paragraph stating what ideas changed and why. Next, discuss how the
math skills that you applied in this project will impact other classes you will take in your school career?
Point to specific parts of the project and your own process in completing it that might have applications
for other classes.

I never knew that it would be possible to determine how much fuel mileage would be lost as
speed increases. I can use this in my everyday life when I am going on long trips. This project will change
the way I look at things, now I will look at everything in an uncertain way. What I mean by this is I will try
and figure out how it will change the way I see things instead of looking at how I don’t think it is
important. I think that this will help with future math classes; for example, part one is something that I
had previously learned and will be something that I can use in the future in my math classes.