select the correct answer.\n\nchris has a cell phone plan with a flat fee of $$26.00$ per month, plus a cost…

select the correct answer.\n\nchris has a cell phone plan with a flat fee of $$26.00$ per month, plus a cost of $$0.12$ per minute of usage. chris can only afford a monthly bill of $$86.00$.\n\nwhich statement is true?\n\na. chris needs to use fewer than 400 minutes per month.\nb. chris needs to use fewer than 450 minutes per month.\nc. chris can afford to use up to 500 minutes per month.\nd. chris can afford to use up to 550 minutes per month.

select the correct answer.\n\nchris has a cell phone plan with a flat fee of $$26.00$ per month, plus a cost of $$0.12$ per minute of usage. chris can only afford a monthly bill of $$86.00$.\n\nwhich statement is true?\n\na. chris needs to use fewer than 400 minutes per month.\nb. chris needs to use fewer than 450 minutes per month.\nc. chris can afford to use up to 500 minutes per month.\nd. chris can afford to use up to 550 minutes per month.

Answer

Explanation:

Step1: Define the cost equation

Let $m$ be the number of minutes used. The total cost is the flat fee plus the per-minute rate. $$C = 26.00 + 0.12m$$

Step2: Set up the inequality

Chris can afford a maximum bill of $$86.00$, so the cost must be less than or equal to $86$. $$26.00 + 0.12m \leq 86.00$$

Step3: Isolate the variable term

Subtract the flat fee from both sides of the inequality. $$0.12m \leq 86.00 - 26.00$$ $$0.12m \leq 60.00$$

Step4: Solve for minutes

Divide both sides by the per-minute rate to find the maximum minutes. $$m \leq \frac{60.00}{0.12}$$ $$m \leq 500$$

Answer:

C. Chris can afford to use up to 500 minutes per month.