The equation in the problem is set up to find the value of $h$, the number of credit hours required for the two tuition costs to be equal. Let me solve it step by step.

The initial equation is:

$250 + 200h = 300 + 180h$

Step 1: Simplify the equation

Subtract $180h$ from both sides:

$250 + 200h - 180h = 300$

$250 + 20h = 300$

Step 2: Isolate $h$

Subtract 250 from both sides:

$20h = 300 - 250$

$20h = 50$

Step 3: Solve for $h$

Divide both sides by 20:

$h = \frac{50}{20} = 2.5$

Final Answer:

The student will need to take 2.5 credit hours for the tuition costs to be equal.

Would you like a detailed explanation of any step, or do you have further questions? Here are five questions related to this:

1. How do you interpret the equation setup for equal tuition costs?
2. Can you calculate the total tuition cost for each scenario using $h = 2.5$?
3. What happens if the cost per credit hour changes?
4. How does rounding affect the outcome in real-world scenarios?
5. Could this method be used for other financial equations?

Tip: Always check your work by substituting the solution back into the original equation to ensure accuracy.