Question

HeatheOG BORTS AND MOREWriting a multi-step equation for a real-world situationTom takes classes at both Westside Community College and Pinewood Community College. At Westside, class fees are $98 per credit hour, and at Pinewood,class fees are $115 per credit hour. Tom is taking a combined total of 12 credit hours at the two schoolsSuppose that he is taking w credit hours at Westside. Write an expression for the combined total dollar amount he paid for his class fees.

Answer 1

Cost of class fees per credit hour:

Westside: $98

Pinewood: $115

Let's say that he is taking w hours at Westside and p hours at Pinewood. We know that Tom is taking a combined total of 12 credit hours at the two schools, then:

$\begin{gathered} p+w=12 \\ p=12-w \end{gathered}$

The cost at Westside is:

$C_W=98\cdot w$

And at Pinewood:

$C_P=115\cdot p=115\cdot(12-w)=1380-115\cdot w$

Finally, the total dollar amount he paid for his class fees is:

$\begin{gathered} C_{\text{Total}}=C_W+C_P=98w+1380-115w \\ C_{\text{Total}}=1380-17w \end{gathered}$