Dividing a bill

[questionablecookie]

I have a bill that two parties pay, however one of the parties was gone for 3 days that the bill accounts for. Total bill is $371.19 for 31 days. I worked it out two ways but am not sure which totals each party pays is correct or which method to use is correct. I started by figuring how much is for each day: 371.19/31=11.973 meaning for 3 days its 35.92
First method I tried was dividing the total in two then adding and subtracting the amount of the 3 days for each party accordingly
so: 371.19/2= 185.595 each party
party 1: 185.60- 35.92=149.68
party 2: 185.60+35.92= 221.52
At first this seemed the more logical way to do it, but once calculating it seemed there was a discrepancy. The totals should only be 35.92 in difference not 71.84.

The second method I used was taking the original total then subtracting the amount of 3 days from that and from there dividing that total in two so:
371.19-35.92=335.27 then
335.27/2=167.64
Party 1: 167.64
Party 2: 167.64+35.92=203.56
For this i didn't think I'd need to subtract the 35.92 from Party 1 as it was already taken into account when it was subtracted from the total in the beginning. And although this seems correct since now the only difference is the 35.92 from what each have to pay, I'm still confused as the first method I used I thought made the most sense.

 

[Steven G]

The bill need to be split into 59 equal parts. One person pays 31 parts while the other person pays 28 parts.

 

[Deleted member 4993]

I have a bill that two parties pay, however one of the parties was gone for 3 days that the bill accounts for. Total bill is $371.19 for 31 days. I worked it out two ways but am not sure which totals each party pays is correct or which method to use is correct. I started by figuring how much is for each day: 371.19/31=11.973 meaning for 3 days its 35.92
First method I tried was dividing the total in two then adding and subtracting the amount of the 3 days for each party accordingly
so: 371.19/2= 185.595 each party
party 1: 185.60- 35.92=149.68
party 2: 185.60+35.92= 221.52
At first this seemed the more logical way to do it, but once calculating it seemed there was a discrepancy. The totals should only be 35.92 in difference not 71.84.

The second method I used was taking the original total then subtracting the amount of 3 days from that and from there dividing that total in two so:
371.19-35.92=335.27 then
335.27/2=167.64
Party 1: 167.64
Party 2: 167.64+35.92=203.56
For this i didn't think I'd need to subtract the 35.92 from Party 1 as it was already taken into account when it was subtracted from the total in the beginning. And although this seems correct since now the only difference is the 35.92 from what each have to pay, I'm still confused as the first method I used I thought made the most sense.

My alternate way: (assuming everything else is equal)

Bill #1 = 371.19/(31 + 28) * 31

Bill #2 = 371.19/(31+28) * 28

Do the calculations and tell us what you got!!

 

[Steven G]

The problem with 371.19/31=11.973 meaning for 3 days its 35.92---this 35.92

My alternate way: (assuming everything else is equal)

Bill #1 = 371.19/(31 + 28) * 31

Bill #2 = 371.19/(31+28) * 28

Do the calculations and tell us what you got!!

Mr Khan,
Did you notice by any chance that is what I posted, leaving some work for the poster to do?
Prof G.

 

[Deleted member 4993]

leaving some work for the poster to do

So did I Mr. G ......

 

[questionablecookie]

The problem with 371.19/31=11.973 meaning for 3 days its 35.92---this 35.92

Mr Khan,
Did you notice by any chance that is what I posted, leaving some work for the poster to do?
Prof G.

Thank you both for responding. What I calculated is

Bill #1 = 195.03

Bill #2 = 176.157


Solving it like this has only confused me further! Haha. I understand why the equation is set up as it is, having to divide it in 59 equal parts, but I'm having trouble understanding if Party 2 is assuming what the full cost would be for those 3 days as if paying for both per se (which would be correct if it is)

 

[Cubist]

Thank you both for responding. What I calculated is

Bill #1 = 195.03

Bill #2 = 176.157

That's correct

Solving it like this has only confused me further! Haha. I understand why the equation is set up as it is, having to divide it in 59 equal parts, but I'm having trouble understanding if Party 2 is assuming what the full cost would be for those 3 days as if paying for both per se (which would be correct if it is)5959

For every day that anyone uses this resource then they must pay $371.19/59 ≈ $6.29135

==

This might be unfair to person#1 if there's a standing charge included in the $371.19 bill, since the standing part must be paid whether or not people decide to be there to use the resource. For example my water bill has a standing charge that covers maintenance of the pipes in the street etc and it's independent of how much I use. The water company won't come and disconnect me if I'm away for three days and therefore I must always pay that minimum amount.