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38 votes
runben sees 14 wheels on a total of 6 bicycles and tricycles how many bicycles and tricycles are there

User Rob Van Groenewoud
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1 Answer

19 votes
19 votes

Answer:

B = 4

T = 2

Explanation:

First, figure out the equation.

We know that bicycles have 2 wheels, that there are 3 on a tricycle, and there are a total of 14 wheels and a total of 6 bicycles and tricycles.

Let b stand for bicycles and t stand for tricycles:

14 = 2b + 3t

6 = b + t

We can figure out the amount of either by rearranging the second equation to isolate one variable. I will solve it in two ways

In the first way, I will solve for b

(-t) 6 = b + t (-t)

6 - t = b

Plug this into the first equation and solve for remaining variable

14 = 2(6 - t) +3t

14 = 12 - 2t + 3t

14 = 12 +t

-12 -12

2 = t

6 - 2 = b

b = 4

The second way was to solve for t first

(-b) 6 = b + t (-b)

6 - b = t

14 = 2b + 3(6 - b)

14 = 2b + 18 - 3b

(-18) 14 = 18 -b (-18)

-4/-1 = -b/-1

b = 4

6 - 4 = t

t = 2

It doesn't matter which way you go, they both give you the exact same answer.

Sooo, recap!

1) write equations

2) switch the easier of the two to isolate one variable

3) substitute to find other variable (x2)

4) Find answers! =D

Hope this helps!

User Deuce
by
2.8k points