Question

A company uses two vans to transport

workers from a free parking lot to the
workplace between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m.
One van has 6 more seats than the other.
The smaller van makes two trips every
morning while the larger one makes only
one trip. The two vans can transport 57
people, maximum.
How many seats does the larger van have?

Answer 1

The larger van has 23 seats

Explanation:

Create a system of Equations:

1. Define variables.

> let x=small van and y=larger van

2. create 2 equations based on the information given.

> y = 6 + x

> 2x + y = 57

3. Use any method to solve

Substitution: 2x + (6 + x) = 57. x=17

now plug x in to the original equation to solve for y (the larger van)

y = 6 + 17 and y = 23

Elimination: 2y = 12 + 2x

y = 57 - 2x

3y = 69 and y = 23

Answer 2

x is the seats in the small van.

y is the seats in the large van = (x + 6). Since the large has 6 more seats.

Since the 2 vans can transport 57 people.

Small van makes 2 trips = 2x.

Large van makes one trip = (x + 6).

2x + (x +6) = 57

2x + x + 6 = 57

3x + 6 = 57

3x = 57 -6

3x = 51

x = 51/3

x = 17.

The larger van has (x + 6) = (17 + 6) = 23.

The larger van has 23 seats.