Expert: Josh - 2/4/2009

Question
Ace hardware sells wrenches for ($86) and hammers for ($300).  Ordered were 45 cartons total.  $9200 was spent in total.  how much was spent on each hammers and wrenches?

I came up with the equation 86w+300h = 9200, but I'm not sure how to fit the 45 cartons into an equation.

Answer
Hi John,

The meaning of a carton is unclear. But it is reasonably to assume that it relates to the number of units placed in the order.

One simple interpretation is that the 45 cartons made up of w wrenches and h hammers. Both "w" and "h" are unit measures, each unit may contain one or more pieces of the tool. We were never told the exact number. Anyway, this gives rise to two equations:

86w+300h=9200 ...(1) and
w+h=45 ...(2)

Solving these simultaneously, (e.g., by taking (1)-86*(2)) the approximate solutions are h=(9200-45*86)/(300-86)=24.9... and w=20.1.