Esther Louis

Majors

Scholars Challenge #3

Two cell phones companies Horizon Wireless and Dishonesty Mobile charge the same
monthly fee for the same services but have different late payment policies. Horizon Wireless
charges 20 dollars the first day the payment was late. After the first day the fee then increases by
$5. Dishonesty Mobile charges a 1 cent the first day the payment was late, then the amount
quadruplets from the previous day. Topics/Strategies related to this problem is ​exponential​ and
linear​. I know that Dishonesty Wireless policy is showing an ​exponential​ growth due to the fact
that the ​rate of growth​ increases as the base is being multiplied multiple time. Horizon Wireless
policy shows ​linear​ growth as the ​rate of change​ remains consistent. The question that arises is
which cell phone companies late payment fee is inexpensive?
Hanley signed a contract with Dishonesty Wireless and made a reckless decision investing
money on a pair of Jordans and an XBox video game than paying his bill. He paid his phone bill
15 days late and is shocked by the penalty fee due to the fact that he thought Dishonesty Mobiles
policy for late payments was better. The question that arises is how much money did he waste
choosing Dishonesty mobile?
To find the answers to my question I created a ​table​ to determine which late fee policy is
more affordable.

Days Horizon Wireless Dishonesty Mobile

1 $20 .01

2 $25 .04

3 $30 .16

4 $35 .64

5 $40 $2.25

6 $45 $10.26

7 $50 $40.96

8 $55 $163.84

9 $60 $655.36
 10 $65 $2,621.44

11 $70 $10,485.76

12 $75 $41,943.04

13 $80 $16,772.16

14 $85 $671,088.64

15 $90 $2,684,354.56

I can infer based on the ​table​, Horizon Wireless’s late fee remained ​constant​ as on the
other hand Dishonesty Mobile's fee increased exponentially. I noticed that by day 8 Dishonesty
Mobile late fee payment surpassed Horizon Wireless’s fee becoming more costly. I conclude
that no matter how low a number is if it increases exponentially it will always surpass a number
that increase at a ​constant ​rate.
To further my investigation, another method you can use that will help you find the price of
the late payment fee for each company by a specific amount of days is to create an ​equation​.
Since Horizon Wireless is linear, I used the ​linear equation​ y=mx+b as a basis. I plugged in the
numbers based on the representation of each letter. In the equation y=mx+b, m is the slope,​rate
of change​ and b is the​ y intercept​, the beginning price. Therefore, I came up with the ​equation
5(x-1)+20, 5 being the number the price increases each day and 20 being the beginning price. I
subtracted x from 1 because the price didn't start increasing until day 2. Dishonesty Mobile on
the other hand is ​exponential​ the exponential equation is y=ba^x. B is the ​y intercept​, starting
price, a is the multiplier (the number it is repeatedly multiplied by). The equation I came up with
is .01(4)^x-1. I subtracted x from 1 the same reason I did for the ​linear equation​. X in this
problem for ​linear​ and ​exponential​ would be the number of days. To find out how much Hanley
would waste by choosing Dishonesty Mobile you will have to subtract the amount of money you
will have to pay Dishonesty Mobile for their late payment on day 15 and the amount of money
you will have to pay Horizon Wireless on day 15. Dishonesty Mobile made $2,684,354.56 and
Horizon Wireless made $90 on day 15. Therefore $2,684,354.56 - $90= $​2684264.56, so
Hanelry lost ​$​2684264.56 choosing Dishonesty Mobile.
Overall, the cell phone company with the better deal is Horizon Wireless because its late fee
remain constant and does not increase exponentially like Dishonesty Mobile's late fee. Hanley
lost $​2684264.56 choosing Dishonesty Mobile.
Reflection
I always used to struggle with the ​strategy​ of making an ​equation​ although we went over it a
ton of times. I understood everything the problem was asking me but I did not know where to put
the numbers represented in the problem. I used to think for the ​linear equation​ y=mx+b that m
was the beginning price and m was the ​rate of change​. Now I think the complete opposite, m is
the ​rate of change​ and b is the beginning price. After conferencing with my teacher he gave me
feedback that I need to find out what each letter in each ​equation​ for ​linear​ and ​exponential
represented to me in my own understanding. This was very useful feedback as I understand
where to put certain numbers.

STANDAR MASTERY (4) MEETS (3) APPROACHES​ (2) REVISE! (1)

D
0.1: I can ​justify ​the I can ​select​ an I select a strategy I am not aware of the
PROBLEM reasonableness of the appropriate strategy to based on what I different strategies for
strategy (or strategies) attack a math problem. know and am solving mathematical
FORMULAT used in a particular Strategies include: comfortable doing, problems. Even worse, I
E problem and possibly - guess and check but that isn’t might not show curiosity
Considers​ multiple connect​ the situation to a - variables & equations necessarily the to learn them.
strategies to solve a
problem applying similar one I have - solve simpler problem most appropriate
prior knowledge and previously explored. - draw a for a problem.
discipline-specific picture/diagram
considerations. - work backwards, etc.

0.2: I can ​organize​ the I can purposefully I explicitly ​identify​ the I am not aware of what
RESEARCH generated data into develop​ the given information needed to research might look like
Collects​ information useable (logical) pieces information in a problem answer a question (given in math class.
and data necessary to and ​justify​ how it is to generate data that may or generated), but can not
solve the problem, organized. lead to the final answer. use it to make
drawing evidence meaningful progress
from an investigation
or generating data
towards a solution.
from the given
information in a
problem.

0.3: I can ​interpret ​the I can ​identify AND I can ​identify OR extend I am not aware of
INTERPRET specific meaning of the extend ​a mathematical a pattern or relationship underlying patterns or
Looks for patterns and pattern or relationship in pattern or relationship to but am unsure how it relationships and how
relationships as the the context of a problem. develop an explanation relates to solving a they can be used to solve
basis for developing of the solution of a problem. or explain a problem.
explanations relevant
problem.
to the problem and its
solution.