Molly Must Drive Across a Bridge Over a River Eight

question 194

Essay

Molly must drive across a bridge over a river eight times each week. Because the bridge is narrow and traffic is congested, Molly's willingness to pay for the eighth and final weekly trip is $0.50. Now the governor has promised to refurbish this old bridge and widen it to lessen the congestion and increase traffic flow over the river. Molly will have to pay extra taxes to finance the repair, but the toll for crossing the bridge will fall, and she expects to make 10 trips instead of just 8. How would you figure out how much Molly is willing to pay in taxes for the bridge repair?

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Definitions:

Nitrate

A compound containing nitrogen and oxygen, commonly found in fertilizers, and can lead to environmental concerns such as water pollution and eutrophication when present in high levels.

Phosphate

A salt or ester of phosphoric acid, commonly used in fertilizers, detergents, food additives, and for water treatment.

Degradable Wastes

Wastes that can break down into less harmful components over time through biological processes.

Dissolved Oxygen

The amount of oxygen gas dissolved in water, essential for the respiration of aquatic life.