Andrew has a cell phone plan that provides 300 free minutes each month for a flat rate of [tex]$19. For any minutes over 300, Andrew is charged $[/tex]0.39 per minute.

Which of the following piecewise functions represents charges based on Andrew's cell phone plan?

A. [tex]\( f(x)= \begin{cases}
19, & x \ \textgreater \ 300 \\
19 + 39x, & x \leq 300
\end{cases} \)[/tex]

B. [tex]\( f(x)= \begin{cases}
19, & x \leq 300 \\
19 + 39x, & x \ \textgreater \ 300
\end{cases} \)[/tex]

C. [tex]\( f(x)= \begin{cases}
19, & x \leq 300 \\
39x, & x \ \textgreater \ 300
\end{cases} \)[/tex]

D. [tex]\( f(x)= \begin{cases}
19, & x \leq 300 \\
19 + 39(x - 300), & x \ \textgreater \ 300
\end{cases} \)[/tex]



Answer :

Let's determine and analyze the piecewise function for Andrew's cell phone plan:

1. When [tex]\( x \leq 300 \)[/tex]:
- When Andrew uses up to 300 minutes in a month ([tex]\( x \leq 300 \)[/tex]), he is charged a flat rate of [tex]$19. This is represented by the function \( f(x) = 19 \). 2. When \( x > 300 \): - When Andrew uses more than 300 minutes in a month (\( x > 300 \)), he is charged $[/tex]19 for the initial 300 minutes plus [tex]$0.39 for each additional minute. - The number of additional minutes beyond the first 300 is \( x - 300 \). - The cost for these additional minutes is \( 0.39 \times (x - 300) \). - Therefore, the total charge in this case is \( 19 + 0.39 \times (x - 300) \). Putting both parts together, the piecewise function that represents Andrew's cell phone charges is: \[ f(x) = \left\{ \begin{array}{ll} 19 & \text{if } x \leq 300 \\ 19 + 0.39(x - 300) & \text{if } x > 300 \end{array} \right. \] Now, let's compare this function with the provided options: A. \( f(x) = \left\{ \begin{array}{ll} 19, x > 300 \\ 19 + 39x, x \leq 300 \end{array} \right\} \) - This option is incorrect because for \( x \leq 300 \), the charge should be flat $[/tex]19, not [tex]\( 19 + 39x \)[/tex].

B. [tex]\( f(x) = \left\{ \begin{array}{ll} 19, x \leq 300 \\ 19 + 39x, x > 300 \end{array} \right\} \)[/tex]
- This option is incorrect because for [tex]\( x > 300 \)[/tex], the structure [tex]\( 19 + 39x \)[/tex] does not properly account for the per-minute charge [tex]\( 0.39(x - 300) \)[/tex].

C. [tex]\( f(x) = \left\{ \begin{array}{ll} 19, x \leq 300 \\ 39x, x > 300 \end{array} \right\} \)[/tex]
- This option is incorrect because [tex]\( 39x \)[/tex] does not properly incorporate the flat rate of [tex]$19 and the additional charge for minutes over 300. D. \( f(x) = \left\{ \begin{array}{ll} 19, x \leq 300 \\ 19 + 39(x - 300), x > 300 \end{array} \right\} \) - This option correctly reflects the flat rate of $[/tex]19 for up to 300 minutes and the added charge of $0.39 per minute for minutes beyond 300.

Hence, the correct piecewise function representing the charges based on Andrew's cell phone plan is:

[tex]\[ \text{D. } f(x) = \left\{ \begin{array}{ll} 19, & x \leq 300 \\ 19 + 0.39(x - 300), & x > 300 \end{array} \right. \][/tex]

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