Expert: Abe Mantell - 1/16/2005

Question
I'm having trouble answering this word problem. I hope you could help me sove it ASAP. I hope you could answer my question until tomorrow or before Tuesday morning because Tuesday morning is our Mid Term test. Here is the problem:

Your math test is worth 100 points and has  38 problems. Each problem is worth either 5 points or 2 points. How many problems of each point are on the test?

I am currently using the book ALGEBRA 1 by MCDOUGAL LITTELL:'Solving Linear Systems by Substition'--the lesson.

Hope you help me and answer my questions and pls expalin to me briefly. Thank you in advance.

Answer
Hello Blue,

Let x=the number of 5 point questions,
and y=the number of 2 point qustions.

So, x+y=38 AND 5x+2y=100

Now solve these simultaneously:
taking the 1st equation, y=38-x and substituting
into the 2nd: 5x+2(38-x)=100 ==> 5x+76-2x=100
==> 3x=24...x=8...thus, y=30
So there are 8 5-pt questions & 30 2-pt questions.

OK?

Abe