Question

A garden table and a bench cost $814 combined. The garden table costs $86 less than the bench. What is the cost of the bench?

Answer 1

The bench cost $364

Explanation:

Hey there,

Before starting, you want two separate variables to represent both the table and the bench.

Let's do this...

Garden table: x

Bench: y

*Note the variables don't have to be x and y, they just have to be two different variables, I just chose x and y. Any letter works as long as they're different.

We then know that the garden table PLUS the bench had a total cost of $814.

Going back to our variables, we could represent this system by saying...

x + y = 814

(remember x is the garden table and y is the bench)

We also know that the garden table costs $86 LESS than the bench.

Going back to our variables, we could represent this by saying...

x - 86 = y

(x - 86 is basically saying that the garden table minus $86 equals the cost of the bench)

Just by looking at this, we know that y is equal to x - 86.

Here's what you have to do...

Plug in y for the first equation...

x - 86 = y

x + ( x - 86 ) = 814

Now, solve...

2x - 86 = 814

Add 86 on both sides...

2x = 900

divide by two on both sides...

x = 450

We now know that the garden table costs $450. But how do we find the cost of the bench? Plug in x back into the original equation...

x + y = 814

(450) + y = 814

subtract 450 on both sides...

You get y = 364

The bench has a total cost of $364

I really hope this helped :)

Answer 2

The Bench is 450 and the Garden table is 364

Explanation:

Total of $814 substrate our difference of $86

so 814-86= 728 divide this by the amount of furniture purchased (2)

2/ 728= 364. Add on our difference of 86 to get our larger amount of 450.