May 2020
Problem of the Month
Parking Problem
The Fort Collins city parking lot initially could park 120 large cars for a fee of $2 per day. The city council voted to establish a new
parking fee to encourage the use of smaller cars, which would help to conserve gasoline. The fee was $1 per day for small cars and $3 per day for
the larger ones.
If the smaller car only takes up 2/3 the space of the larger, how should the lot be laid out so as to maintain the lot's income at $240 per day?
In other words, how many spaces for small cars and how many spaces for large cars should be alotted?
You must show your algebra to get credit.