# Math Help - Help graphing costs for College?

1. ## Help graphing costs for College?

I have a project where I have to find the costs of going to a 4 year college now, costs to send a future child, and the time it takes to double, triple, and quadruple the costs. I'm having trouble finding the right equation, I believe I'm suppose to graph A = P(1 + R)^T or Pa^X , where the rate (rate of inflation in this case) is 7.18 percent (.0718), but the graphs just aren't making sense. So, maybe I'm graphing the wrong equation all together, or maybe just inputting the wrong values for P, R, T, X?

2. Originally Posted by Incursion
A = P(1 + R)^T or Pa^X , where the rate (rate of inflation in this case) is 7.18 percent (.0718), but the graphs just aren't making sense. So, maybe I'm graphing the wrong equation all together, or maybe just inputting the wrong values for P, R, T, X?
T is your number of years and P is the starting cost

A = P(1 + R)^T = P(1.0718)^T, now what is P and T?

Take for double the cost A = 2P therefore solve $2P = P(1.0718)^T \implies 2=(1.0718)^T$

Take for triple the cost A = 3P therefore solve $3P = P(1.0718)^T \implies 3=(1.0718)^T$

and so on...

solve for T in each case.

3. Originally Posted by Incursion
I have a project where I have to find the costs of going to a 4 year college now, costs to send a future child, and the time it takes to double, triple, and quadruple the costs. I'm having trouble finding the right equation, I believe I'm suppose to graph A = P(1 + R)^T or Pa^X , where the rate (rate of inflation in this case) is 7.18 percent (.0718), but the graphs just aren't making sense. So, maybe I'm graphing the wrong equation all together, or maybe just inputting the wrong values for P, R, T, X?
Teachers expect questions that form part of an assessment that contributes towards the final grade of a student to be the work of that student and not the work of others. For that reason, MHF policy is to not knowingly help with such questions.

Thread closed (you can send me a pm to discuss the situation but if I'm unconvinced, then the thread will remain closed).