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Decisions, Decisions. How one man (or woman, but in this case a man) was able to use math to make the best possible decision.
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Decisions, Decisions How one man (or woman, but in this case a man) was able to use math to make the best possible decision.
Bob had a decision to make. Bob had just graduated college and his parents kicked him off their phone plan. “It’s time you paid for your own phone” said Bob’s dad. Needless to say, Bob is in a bit of a pickle. He needs a phone and quick. The Decision
Bob remembered that his math teacher used to tell him to list the things that he knows about the problem first, then he can think of ways to solve it. The list looked like this: • I use about 550 minutes per month • I don’t want to send any texts or connect to the internet from my phone. • I need it as cheap as possible What he knows
Bob, being the young man that he is, went directly to the website for SprechenKlar cell plans. SprechenKlar had many different plans but Bob being frugal looked at these two. Gathering more information
SprechenKlarErst Plan • Cost: $39.99 per month • Minutes: 450 • Add’l Minutes: $0.45 per minute • SprecehnKlarZweiten Plan • Cost: $59.99 per month • Minutes: 900 • Add’l Minutes: $0.40 per minute Bob looks at the plans and thinks he will go with the Erst Plan. He only goes 100 minutes over the plan and he doesn’t want to pay all that extra money for 900 minutes. The Plans
Bob thought about it and said to himself “Bob, I need to figure out a way to make sure that the Erst Plan will cost me less. I know I’ll make a table…Good job Bob!...Thank you Bob! Method to Solve the Problem
Bob kept thinking about the problem and figured it couldn’t hurt to set up a couple of equations… The cost for the first plan is equal to 39.99+.45m, m=minutes over 450. The cost for the second plan is equal to 59.99+.40m, m=minutes over 900. The Equations
Bob couldn’t believe his eyes. He even went back and checked his math twice (not a bad idea by the way…). It was right. Well, the decision was now clear. The Table
Later that month Bob was sitting on his couch and couldn’t believe how much math had saved him. By going with the second plan, he saves $25 a month. The Happy Ending