# Thread: word problem: The base rate for the phone bill is $82.00 per month.... 1. ## word problem: The base rate for the phone bill is$82.00 per month....

Hi, my name is Eddy. I am struggling with this here word problem. I would appreciate any help which include steps and rationale behind the steps. thank you so much in advance.
the base rate for a telephone bill for married couple is $82.00 per month.each member paid 1/2 of the bill plus their data usage. the total bill for the month was$125.00. what was he payment per person, if 60% of data usage was his?.

2. Originally Posted by eddy2017
Hi, my name is Eddy. I am struggling with this here word problem. I would appreciate any help which include steps and rationale behind the steps. thank you so much in advance.
the base rate for a telephone bill for married couple is $82.00 per month.each member paid 1/2 of the bill plus their data usage. the total bill for the month was$125.00. what was he payment per person, if 60% of data usage was his?.
So the combined data usage charge = 125 - 82 = 43

How would split this bill?

Please share your work with us ...even if you know it is wrong.

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3. [QUOTE=Subhotosh Khan;424627]So the combined data usage charge = 125 - 82 = 43

How would split this bill?

my try is not much:
regular tariff> 82
bill of the month> 125
each member paid half> 62.50 (?)

he has used up 60% of data usage = 60/100=0.6

i was told the one equation i could set up was:
data cost= his data cost+ her data cost
but that doesn't give me the amount each one of them paid.

what is 43 ?. what does this number represent. I am confused here.
someone told me 43 is the data cost for the man. I don't get it. Sorry

4. [QUOTE=eddy2017;424631]
Originally Posted by Subhotosh Khan
So the combined data usage charge = 125 - 82 = 43

How would split this bill?

my try is not much:
regular tariff> 82
bill of the month> 125
each member paid half> 62.50 (?)

he has used up 60% of data usage = 60/100=0.6

i was told the one equation i could set up was:
data cost= his data cost+ her data cost
but that doesn't give me the amount each one of them paid.

what is 43 ?. what does this number represent. I am confused here.
someone told me 43 is the data cost for the man. I don't get it. Sorry
Do you see (and I have shown) that:

total data usage bill = total bill - tariff

total data usage bill = 125 - 82 = 43

split it up 60-40 ratio - continue....

5. [QUOTE=Subhotosh Khan;424633]
Originally Posted by eddy2017
Do you see (and I have shown) that:

total data usage bill = total bill - tariff

total data usage bill = 125 - 82 = 43

split it up 60-40 ratio - continue....
I'm sorry. I'm stuck there. I need to understand the process of how to go about setting up an equation using the data given. If you'd care to explain It would help me a lot understand the rational behind the setup

6. Eddy, are you a student attending math classes?

7. Originally Posted by eddy2017

I'm sorry. I'm stuck there. I need to understand the process of how to go about setting up an equation using the data given. If you'd care to explain It would help me a lot understand the rational behind the setup
Name things.

$b = base\ rate$.

$d = data\ usage\ cost.$

$h = husband's\ data\ usage\ cost$.

$w = wife's\ data\ usage\ cost.$

$m = male's\ share\ of\ bill.$

$f = female's\ share\ of\ bill.$

You have six unknowns so you need six pieces of information.

$b + d = 125.$ Does that make sense?

$b = 82.$ Where did that come from?

$d = h + w.$ Why?

$h = 0.6d.$ How do I know that?

$m = \left ( \dfrac{1}{2} * b \right ) + h.$ Did that come from somewhere? Where?

$f = b + d - m.$

Now start eliminating unknowns. This is purely mechanical. No thought required.

$b = 82 \text { and } b + d = 125 \implies 82 + d = 125 \implies d = 125 - 82 = 43.$

$f = b + d - m \text { and } b + d = 125 \implies f = 125 - m.$

$h = 0.6d \text { and } d = 43 \implies h = 0.6 * 43 = 25.80.$

$m = \left ( \dfrac{1}{2} * b \right ) + h = \left (\dfrac{1}{2} * 82 \right ) + 25.80 = 41 + 25.80 = 66.80.$

$f = 125 - m = 125 - 66.80 = 58.20.$

Does that make sense?

8. Originally Posted by Denis
Eddy, are you a student attending math classes?
No, I am prepping for a math test I have to sit to get a certificate in esol. I am learning many things on my own and thru different websites, but with word problems I do struggle.

9. ## word problem

jeefm ,thank you so much. It does makes sense now. Thanks for taking the time to explain so well. and thanks to the others too.

10. Originally Posted by eddy2017
The base rate for a telephone bill for married couple is $82.00 per month. Each member paid 1/2 of the bill plus their data usage. **** The total bill for the month was$125.00.
What was he payment per person, if 60% of data usage was his?
**** that is unclear, and should be stated this way:
Each member pays their data usage plus 1/2 of the BASE RATE.

Invoice would look like:
Base rate....................82.00
Month's data usage......43.00
Total........................125.00

husband: 82.00 / 2 + 60% of 43
wife......: 82.00 / 2 + 40% of 43

Jeff showed you that in more details.

Good luck Eddy!

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