Expert: Lynn Houston - 7/22/2010

Question
A truck can be rented from Basic Rental for $50 per day plus $0.20 per mile. Roadrunners charges $20 per day plus $.50 per mile to rent the same truck. How many miles must be driven in a day to make the rental cost for Basic Rental a better deal that that for Roadrunners?

Answer
Let x = miles driven in a day

50 + .2x < 20 + .5x  subtract 20 from both sides
30 + .2x < .5x    subtract .2x from both sides
30 < .3x          divide both sides by .3

100 < x or x > 100  

You would have to drive over 100 miles for the basic to be a better deal.