A metal refining plant emits sulfur dioxide into the air and has decided to install air scrubbers to reduce the amount of pollution. Each scrubber costs $180,000 and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fines the plant $5,000 for every part of pollution emitted per million.

$ \begin{array}{ll}\text { Number of air } & \text { Amount of pollution } \
\text { scrubbers } & \text { (parts per million) }\0 & 150 \ 1 & 100 \ 2 & 60 \ 3 & 30 \ 4 & 10 \ 5 & 0\end{array} $
-The first air scrubber __________ (increases/decreases) the total cost of pollution by $______.

Question

A metal refining plant emits sulfur dioxide into the air and has decided to install air scrubbers to reduce the amount of pollution. Each scrubber costs $180,000 and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fines the plant $5,000 for every part of pollution emitted per million.

$ \begin{array}{ll}\text { Number of air } & \text { Amount of pollution } \
\text { scrubbers } & \text { (parts per million) }\0 & 150 \ 1 & 100 \ 2 & 60 \ 3 & 30 \ 4 & 10 \ 5 & 0\end{array} $
-The first air scrubber __________ (increases/decreases) the total cost of pollution by $______.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The first scrubber reduces pollution from 150 to 100 parts per million, saving $250,000 in fines (50 parts x $5,000) but costs $180,000, resulting in a net decrease of $70,000.

A Metal Refining Plant Emits Sulfur Dioxide into the Air