Question

The combined mass of two trucks is 29 tonnes. The heavier truck is 1 tonne less than twice the mass

of the smaller truck. Write two equations and solve them to find the mass of each truck.

Answer 1

Mass of the smaller truck is 10 tonnes and that of the heavier truck is 19 tonnes.

Explanation:

• Step 1: Given, sum of masses of 2 trucks = 29 tonnes. Let the mass of the smaller truck be x. Then the mass of the heavier truck = 2x - 1. Write the equation.

⇒ x + 2x - 1 = 29

⇒ 3x - 30 = 0

• Step 2: Solve for x to find the masses.

⇒ 3x = 30

⇒ x = 10 tonnes

and 2x - 1 = 20 - 1 = 19 tonnes