The Gordon family plans to buy a TV. One TV has a purchase price of $330 and an estimated yearly operating cost of $14. The other has a purchase price of $369 and an estimated yearly operating cost of $9. Which TV should the Gordons buy if they plan to keep it for 8 years? Use rational functions to help justify your answer.

Question

Revolt · Accepted Answer

The Gordons should buy the $369 TV. Its average annual cost is (369 + 9x)/x, which is $55.125 (about $55.13) per year for 8 years. The $330 TV's average annual cost is (330 + 14x)/x, or $55.25 per year. Over 8 years, the totals are $441 and $442, respectively.

Modeling with Rational Functions

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