Question

A​ long-distance telephone company charges a rate of 5 cents per minute or a 70​-cent minimum charge per completed​ call, whichever is greater. Find the​ cost, in cents per​ minute, for a 8​-minute call.

Answer 1

An 8-minute call would supposedly cost 40 cents, as shown below.

`\frac{5\,\textrm{cents}}{\textrm{min}} \cdot 8 \, \textrm{min} = 40 \, \textrm{cents}`

However, the information in the problem states that the minimum charge for a call is 70 cents. Since 40 cents is less than 70 cents, we will have to take the 70 cent charge, meaning the phone call costs 70 cents.