42Setting up a cost equation
A gym charges a one-time sign-up fee of 40 dollars plus 25 dollars per month. After how many months will a member have paid a total of 340 dollars?
Set up cost = fixed fee + monthly rate times months: 40 + 25m = 340. Solving gives m = 12 months. The key is spotting what's paid once (the $40) versus what's paid repeatedly (the $25 per month).