Steve is mailing a small package. Postage rates are: $0.46 for the first ounce and $0.20 for each additional ounce. The UPS store is offering a special for $3.45 on a small box if your items fit, the weight not being a factor. Which of the following weights would make it cheaper for Steve to ship his package by the post office rather than by UPS?
15 ounces
16 ounces
18 ounces or higher
17 ounces
Detailed Explanation
Set up an equation that relates the total cost of the post office with the total cost of shipping via UPS. Shipping via the post office entails a flat fee of 0.46 and a charge per ounce of 0.20. The total cost if shipped with the post office is then: 0.46 + 0.2(x-1), where x represents the unknown number of ounces. The total cost of shipping with UPS is 3.45, regardless of the number of ounces. The equation between the expressions is then: 0.46 + 0.2(x-1) = 3.45; x-1=14.95; x = 15.95 Meaning: for a package that weighs 15.95 ounces, the cost of the post office equals the cost of UPS. If the package weighs more than 15.95 ounces, shipping with the post office is more expensive. A weight below 15.96 ounces makes it cheaper to ship via the post office.
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