Question

a bicycle hire firm charges $m as a flat fee for renting a vehicle plus 20 cents per mile. if the total cost of hiring a bicycle on one occasion is $40, and the number of miles rode was 80, calculate the value of m. provide your answer below:

Explanation:

Step1: Convert cents to dollars

$20$ cents $= 0.2$ dollars

Step2: Set up cost - equation

The total cost equation is $C=m + 0.2n$, where $C$ is the total cost, $m$ is the flat - fee, and $n$ is the number of miles. We know that $C = 40$ and $n = 80$. So, $40=m+0.2\times80$.

Step3: Simplify the right - hand side

$0.2\times80 = 16$, so the equation becomes $40=m + 16$.

Step4: Solve for $m$

Subtract 16 from both sides: $m=40 - 16$. Then $m = 24$.

Answer:

$24$