Lee watches TV for 2 hours per day. During that time, the TV consumes 150 watts per hour. Electricity costs (10 cents)/(1 kilowatt-hour). How much does Lee's TV cost to operate for a month of 30 days?
To find the cost of operating the TV for a month, we first determine the total usage time and energy consumption. Lee watches TV for \(2\) hours every day. Over a month of \(30\) days, the total time spent watching TV is calculated as:
\[2 \text{ hours/day} \times 30 \text{ days} = 60 \text{ hours}.\]
The TV consumes \(150\) watts per hour. Thus, the total energy consumption in watt-hours for the month is:
\[60 \text{ hours} \times 150 \text{ watts/hour} = 9000 \text{ watt-hours}.\]
Electricity costs are provided per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Since \(1\) kilowatt is equivalent to \(1000\) watts, we convert our total energy consumption from watt-hours to kilowatt-hours:
\[\frac{9000 \text{ watt-hours}}{1000 \text{ watts/kW}} = 9 \text{ kWh}.\]
Now, we calculate the total cost by multiplying the energy consumption in kWh by the cost rate, which is \(10\) cents per \(1\) kWh:
\[9 \text{ kWh} \times 10 \text{ cents/kWh} = 90 \text{ cents}.\]
Thus, the total cost for Lee's TV operation for the month is \(\boxed{90}\) cents.
Understanding how to calculate energy costs is a vital skill for managing household expenses. By determining the power consumption of your appliances and the duration of their use, you can accurately forecast your monthly electricity bill. This practice encourages energy efficiency, as it helps identify which devices contribute most to your overall energy usage, allowing you to make informed decisions about your daily habits.