Question

An Ontario resident has a choice of drug plans.

Plan A cost $500 a year, plus $10 for each prescription

Plan B cost $650 a year.

The person wanted to know how many prescriptions could be purchased before the $650 plan became the better deal. Write an equation to represent this relationship. Solve the equation to determine the number of prescriptions that makes the two plans equal.

Answer 1

Hello there!

a. Okay, we can set up the equation like this: 500 + 10p = 650.

b. First, let’s subtract 500 from both sides. When we do, we get 10p = 150. Divide each side by 10 to isolate the “p”. When we do, we get p = 15. It would take 15 prescriptions to make both plans equal.

c. With that being said, add 1 more prescription to get 16. It would take 16 prescriptions for the $650 plan to be a better deal.