Question

Laura brought some fish; salt water ($2 each) and fresh water ($1 each). If she has 15 fish and the total was $23 - how many of each fish did she buy?

Answer 1

8

7

Explanation:

Let the number of fresh water be: - x

Number of salt fishes be 15 - x

x + 2 (15 - x) = 23

x + 30 - 2x = 23

x = 7

Number of fresh water fish bought: -7

Number of salt water fish bought by: -15 -7 = 8

Answer 2

8 salt water

7 fresh water

Explanation:

Let's represent salt water fish with the variable "s" and fresh water fish with the variable "f".

We can make a system of equations - one equation for the number of fish and the other for the price of the fish.

We know that the total number of fish Laura has is 15, and the total price of the fish was $23.

• s + f = 15
• 2s + f = 23

Solve the system of equations by subtracting the bottom equation from the top equation.

• -s =-8
• s = 8

Laura bought 8 salt water fish. Since the total number of fish is 15, the number of fresh water fish must be 7.