Question

The shipping cost for an on-line company increases exponential based on the number of dollars the consumer has spent. It can be represented by the equation y = 0.003(2)x where x represents every $10 spent. Shipping charges will max out at $20. The company has decided that they need to add a base shipping charge of $5. What will this new function be?

Answer 1

`y = 5 + 0.003(2^(x))`

Explanation:

If a base shipping charge of $ 5 is collected, it means that regardless of the amount of money spent, a base payment of $ 5 must be made for the shipment. Therefore the graph of the exponential function must move 5 units up on the positive y axis. Your new cutoff point with the positive y axis will be y = $ 5.003

Therefore, the new function that represents the shipping cost will be:

`y = 5 + 0.003(2^(x))`

with
`x \leq 20`