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A boy scout troop is selling Christmas trees at a local tree lot. In the morning, they sold 20 Douglas Fir trees and 23 Noble Fir trees, earning a total of $2,417. In the afternoon, they sold 20 Douglas Fir trees and 18 Noble Fir trees, earning a total of $2,022. How much does each type of tree cost?​

User Yamini
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1 Answer

6 votes

Answer:A Douglas Fir costs $27 and a Noble Fir costs $68.

Explanation:

To solve using elimination, follow these four steps:

Step 1: Make sure the equations have opposite x terms or opposite y terms.

Step 2: Add to eliminate one variable and solve for the other.

Step 3: Plug the result of Step 2 into one of the original equations and solve.

Step 4: State the solution.

solve

Before you can solve, you must write a system of equations. Let x represent the cost of a Douglas Fir tree, and let y represent the cost of a Noble Fir tree.

13x + 2y = 487

22x + 10y = 1,274

Now use elimination to solve the system of equations.

Step 1: Make sure the equations have opposite x terms or opposite y terms.

Currently, neither the x terms (13x and 22x) nor the y terms (2y and 10y) are opposites. Use multiplication to rewrite the equations with either opposite x terms or opposite y terms. One good approach is to multiply the first equation by –5.

–5(13x + 2y = 487)

–65x − 10y = –2,435

22x + 10y = 1,274

22x + 10y = 1,274

Now the y terms (–10y and 10y) are opposites.

Step 2: Add to eliminate one variable and solve for the other.

Add to eliminate the y terms, and then solve for x.

–65x − 10y = –2,435

+ ( 22x + 10y = 1,274 )

–43x + 0y = –1,161 Add to eliminate the y terms

–43x = –1,161 Simplify

x = 27 Divide both sides by –43

Step 3: Plug the result of Step 2 into one of the original equations and solve.

Take the result of Step 2, x = 27, and plug it into one of the original equations, such as 13x + 2y = 487. Then find the value of y.

13x + 2y = 487

13(27) + 2y = 487 Plug in x = 27

351 + 2y = 487 Multiply

2y = 136 Subtract 351 from both sides

y = 68 Divide both sides by 2

Step 4: State the solution.

Since x = 27 and y = 68, the solution is (27, 68).

A Douglas Fir costs $27 and a Noble Fir costs $68.

User Drulabs
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