Question

Greg combined different weights of fertilizer, soil, and compost to make 29 kilograms (kg) of potting soil for some plants. The weight of fertilizer was x kg. The weight of soil was 2 kg more than three times the weight of fertilizer, and the weight of compost was half the weight of fertilizer. This is represented in the equation below: x + (3x + 2) + one half x = 29 What was the difference in the weights of soil and compost Greg combined?

Answer 1

x=fertilizer
3x+2=soil
1/2x=compost

Solve for x in order to solve each above.
x+(3x+2)+1/2x=29
4 1/2x+2=29
Subtract 2 from both sides
4 1/2x=27
9/2x=27
Multiply both sides by the inverse of 9/2 to get x by itself.
x=27*2/9
x=54/9
x=6=fertilizer
3x+2=3(6)+2=20=soil
1/2x=1/2(6)=3=compost

Check :
x+(3x+2)+1/2x=29
6+(3(6)+2)+1/2(6)=29
6+20+3=29
29=29

Hope this helps!! :)

Answer 2

Answer:17 kg

Explanation:

let the weight of fertilizer be x

It is given that combined weight is 29 kg

Weight of soil was 2 kg more than three times the weight of fertilizer

i.e.

soil weight is 3x+2

Also weight of compost was half the weight of fertilizer

i.e. compost weight =
`(1)/(2)x`

And combined weight

x+3x+2+
`(x)/(2)`=29

x=6 kg

Difference in weight of soil and compost

`3x+2-(x)/(2)=17 kg`