A retailer charges a flat handling fee of $5.00, plus $0.75 per quarter pound, to ship an item. Bailey pays $9.50 to have an item shipped from the retailer. What is the weight of the item?

Subtract the $5.00 flat fee from Bailey’s $9.50 total: $9.50 − $5.00 = $4.50. At $0.75 per quarter pound, $4.50 pays for 6 quarter-pound units, which weigh 6 × 0.25 = 1.50 pounds. The item weighs 1.50 pounds.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.