A trucking company publishes the following rates:

Shipment Weight Cost per $100$ Pounds

Less than $500$ lbs$.$ $$27\mathrm{.}00$

$500999$ lbs$.$ $$25\mathrm{.}00$

$1,0004,999$ lbs$.$ $$22\mathrm{.}50$

$5,0009,999$ lbs$.$ $$21\mathrm{.}00$

$10,000$ lbs$.$ or more $$20\mathrm{.}00$

Suppose you have eight shipments of $900$ pounds each that the carrier will consolidate into one

shipment, for an additional charge of $$245($total$).$

a$.$ Calculate the total cost with or without consolidated shipment charge.

With: Without:

b$.$ Should you agree to consolidate the shipments? $($what is the cost of sending them

individually versus consolidated$)$