In this project “Transportation Costs (or Trucker’s Dilemma),” we need to use our math skills to solve for the minimum total costs of the trip. We have some basic information to solve the problem. We know the total trip is 290 miles long, at a constant rate of 50 miles per hour; we also know about one gallon fuel can drive 7 miles, and fuel costs $3.60 per gallon. For each mile per hour increase in speed, the truck loses a tenth of a mile per gallon in its mileage. Then we know the drivers get $29.50 per hour in wages and fixed costs for running the truck amount to $12.15 per hour. Beside on the information we have, we could start solving the problem if the truck is driven at 50 miles per hour. Calculating step by step, first we are need to find the length of time for the trip, so we can just divide 290 by 50, because we know about the total distant of the trip is 290 miles and 50 miles per hours. Second, with the calculation of the length of time, we can multiple the time with the drivers’ wage of $29.50 per hour and multiple the time with the fixed costs of running the truck amount to $12.15. We add these two numbers together to find out how much will it cost to pay the driver and run the truck. Third, we need to find the total amount of fuel required, based on 7 miles per gallon for 290 miles. We divide 290 by 7, and then with the total costs for fuel, multiply $3.60 with the total amount of fuel we have calculated. Then finally, we add all the cost together to get the TOTAL cost for the trip. Here is just the beginning of solving the problem. On the next two pages, we will change the constant rate of miles per hour, but using the same steps at the beginning to find the minimum total costs for the trip. On the next page, we change the constant rate of 65 miles per hour, but we don’t know the mileage (which is the miles per gallon of fuel) when the truck is travelling at 65 miles per hour. However we know each mile per hour increase in speed, the truck loses a tenth of a mile per gallon in its mileage. So since the mileage in 50 miles per gallon is 7, we can take 7 minus one tenth (which is 0.1) times bracket 65 minus 50; 65 minus 50 is the number of how many miles per hour increase in speed. Then we use the same steps at the beginning problem of 50 miles per hour to find the total cost for the trip. Then at the last page, we us “X” as the constant rate of miles per hour, and make an equation to find the total costs for the trip in any number of miles per hour by using the same steps as beginning. And then we graph the equation and find the minimum point in the graph, the minimum point in the graph is the minimum costs for the trip. The math skills I use on this project give me patience to take step by step to solving problem. My personal learning skills are to take a short and faster way to solve the problem. But I realize that sometimes the short and faster way has much more mistakes than I know about. Just like my reading class, we need to read and state the thesis out of the article. But I am always too lazy to read the whole paragraphs, so I take the shorter and faster way, by just reading the first and last sentences on each paragraph to make a thesis. My thesis is not quite right all the time, because I didn’t take time to read the whole article. So my grade in reading is not a best grade I want. This project gives me the idea to take step by step and having patient to take every step to reach the final answer with a good grade. Math is very important in business and technology calculation. In business, if your math skills aren’t so great or you didn’t take each step to check, you will probably lose money for your business. In technology, people have their own way to calculate their own program, but always have steps to follow. If they don’t follow each step, mistakes occur, the program fails, and they lose their job. Math is happening in our life every day, you may count the time, you may count the day pass by. Math is time, and time is life. So remind yourself to take every step, and will make less mistakes in your life.