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 April 30th, 2017, 09:10 PM #1 Senior Member   Joined: Jan 2017 From: US Posts: 104 Thanks: 5 Inverse Variation in Algebra The cost per person to ride a bus to a concert varies inversely with the number of people who ride the bus. The bus holds 54 people. If it costs $42 per person when 20 people ride the bus, solve for how much it would cost if the bus was filled to capacity. Be sure to define your variables, find your constant variable, construct your variation equation, and then solve.  May 3rd, 2017, 08:17 PM #2 Senior Member Joined: Jan 2017 From: US Posts: 104 Thanks: 5 y=42 when x=20 y=kx 42=k*20 So, if x=54: 42=k*54 54/42= 1.3 (rounded to the nearest tenth) 1.3*54=\$70.20 So it would cost \$70.20 when the bus is filled to capacity. Did I do this right? Last edited by greg1313; May 3rd, 2017 at 08:42 PM. Reason: Added ' \' before dollar signs for correct rendering.  May 3rd, 2017, 08:48 PM #3 Global Moderator Joined: Oct 2008 From: London, Ontario, Canada - The Forest City Posts: 7,723 Thanks: 985 Math Focus: Elementary mathematics and beyond The cost per person is inversely proportional to the number of people riding the bus. The more people riding the bus the less cost per person. Start with 42 = k/20. Thanks from Indigo28  May 3rd, 2017, 09:28 PM #4 Senior Member Joined: Jan 2017 From: US Posts: 104 Thanks: 5 Ok so So 42=k/20 42*20= 840 k=840 y=kx 42=840/54 42 = 15.5 So if 42 people ride, the cost would be$15.50..?
 May 3rd, 2017, 10:24 PM #5 Global Moderator     Joined: Oct 2008 From: London, Ontario, Canada - The Forest City Posts: 7,723 Thanks: 985 Math Focus: Elementary mathematics and beyond There are errors in your work though your result is almost correct. 42 does not equal 840/54. Write C = 840/54 where C is the cost per person. The result is \\$15.56 per person to the nearest penny, as 840/54 = 15.5555... Thanks from Indigo28
 May 4th, 2017, 02:30 AM #6 Global Moderator   Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 18,551 Thanks: 1479 Does the driver of the bus "ride the bus"? Thanks from Indigo28
May 4th, 2017, 10:53 PM   #7
Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2017
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Quote:
 Originally Posted by skipjack Does the driver of the bus "ride the bus"?
Haha, I don't know. Good question!

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