What will be the cost of 5,500 gallons of polymer if exactly 100 gallons costs $19.50?

To determine the cost of 5,500 gallons of polymer given that 100 gallons costs $19.50, we first need to find the cost per gallon.

Dividing the cost of 100 gallons by 100 gives us the cost per gallon:

[

\text{Cost per gallon} = \frac{19.50}{100} = 0.195

]

Now, we can calculate the cost for 5,500 gallons by multiplying the cost per gallon by the total number of gallons:

[

\text{Total cost} = 5,500 \times 0.195 = 1,072.50

]

Therefore, the cost of 5,500 gallons of polymer is $1,072.50. This calculation is important to ensure that the pricing is proportional across varying quantities, which is a common scenario in bulk purchasing situations. The correct answer reflects this proper method of calculation.