Answered

The Picketts have lived in their house for about 13 years. They like to keep a well-maintained property and have noticed that the paint on the exterior of their house is starting to peel. They get two bids for painting services from two different contractors. Based on the fee schedule below, which option would be the cheapest and by how much?




Handyman's Paint Service		Painting Plus Service

\$2250 all supplies and labor included for a 2-day job		Two day job estimate

\$300 preparation work

\$765 labor per day

\$225 paint and supplies





APainting Plus Service would be cheaper by \$960
BPainting Plus Service would be cheaper by \$195
CHandyman's Paint Service would be cheaper by \$105
DHandyman's Paint Service would be cheaper by \$195

Verified Answer :

  • Calculate Handyman's Paint Service total: \(\$2250\).
  • Calculate Painting Plus Service total: \(\$300 + 2 \times \$765 + \$225 = \$2055\).
  • Compare costs: \(\$2250 - \$2055 = \$195\).
  • Conclude that the Painting Plus Service is cheaper by \(\$195\), which corresponds to option b.
  • Final answer: \(\boxed{b}\)

Explanation

  1. Calculating Total Costs for Each Service

The goal is to determine the most cost-effective painting service between Handyman's Paint Service and Painting Plus Service based on their provided fee schedules for a 2-day job. We must calculate the total cost for each service and find the difference.

  • Handyman's Paint Service total cost: The service is listed as a flat rate of \(\$2250\) for a 2-day job, including all supplies and labor.
  • Painting Plus Service total cost: This service is billed as a summation of individual components:
  • Preparation work: \(\$300\)
  • Labor: \(\$765\) per day \(\times\) \(2\) days = \(\$1530\)
  • Paint and supplies: \(\$225\)
  • Total cost for Painting Plus Service: \(\$300 + \$1530 + \$225 = \boxed{\$2055}\)
  1. Comparing Costs and Determining the Difference

Now, we compare the total costs to determine which service is more economical.

  • Handyman's Paint Service cost: \(\$2250\)
  • Painting Plus Service cost: \(\$2055\)
  • Comparison: Since \(\$2055 < \$2250\), the Painting Plus Service is the cheaper option.
  • Difference in cost: \(\$2250 - \$2055 = \boxed{\$195}\)

Thus, the Painting Plus Service is cheaper by \(\$195\). This matches option (b).

Examples

Comparing service bids is a practical skill used in managing home improvements, business contracts, or even choosing between different subscription models. By calculating the total cost of each bid—factoring in fixed fees, hourly rates, and supply costs—one can make an informed financial decision. This process ensures you minimize expenses while getting the best value for necessary services, just like the Picketts did when choosing between two painting contractors.

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