1. Tim is choosing between two cell phone plans that offer the

same amount of free minutes. Cingular's plan charges $39.99

per month with additional minutes costing $0.45. Verizon's

plan costs $44.99 with additional minutes at $0.40. Write an

equation that could be used in order to find the additional

minutes a, that it will take for the two plans to cost the same.

39.99 + x (0.45) = 44.99 + x (0.40)

Where x is the number of minutes

Step-by-step explanation:

To make both plans equal, it is important to state that their additional minute would be the same.

Now, let us choose the value x as the additional minute on both plans.

The total cost of the additional minute on the cingular plan would be x * 0.45 = 0.45x

The total cost of the additional minute on the Verizon plan would be x * 0.4 = 0.40x

Now we calculate the overall cost on the cingular network to be $ (39.99 + x (0.45)). The overall cost on the Verizon network would be $ (44.99 + x (0.40)).

Since we now want a situation in which both plans are equal monetarily, we then equate the value of the 2 plans.

Hence,

39.99 + 0.45x = 44.99 + 0.40x