The total cost was 38 from which we subtract $6 fixed fee
That leaves us with 32 which is the amount paid per pound
@$2 per pound, the weight is 16 pounds

Hi All,

This question can be solved by TESTing THE ANSWERS.

We're told that a certain company charges $6 per package to ship packages weighing less than 2 pounds each. However, for a package weighing 2 pounds or more, the company charges an initial fee of $6 plus $2 per pound. We're told that a certain package cost $38 to ship. We're asked for the weight, in pounds, of that package.

Let's TEST Answer B: 17 pounds

According to the pricing 'rules' a 17 pound package would cost $6 + 17($2) = $40. This is TOO EXPENSIVE. Thus, the package must weigh LESS than 17 pounds. There's only one answer that fits...

Final Answer:

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A certain company charges $6 per package to ship packages weighing less than 2 pounds each. For a package weighing 2 pounds or more, the company charges an initial fee of $6 plus $2 per pound. If the company charged $38 to ship a certain package, which of the following was the weight of the package, in pounds?

(A) 16
(B) 17
(C) 19
(D) 20
(E) 22


Let the weight of the package be X. Then the cost is 2*X + 6= 38 ---> 2X=32 ---> X=16.

So the answer is (A).
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Just another thought:
Good tricky question.Important thing to realize is that the package cannot be less than 2 pounds as then for a cost of $38 there would be more than one package.

Since there is only a single package whose cost is $38 hence the package must be over 2 pounds.
In this case only the second equation i.e. 6 + 2(y) = 38 is applicable
where Y is the weight of the package and Y>2 , now we can easily get the weight of the package.
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- Stne

Letting n = the weight of the package, we can create the equation:

38 = 6 + 2n

32 = 2n

16 = n

Answer: A
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