Final answer:
The question involves solving a system of equations to find out that the friends rented 22 person tubes and 4 cooler tubes during their tubing trip.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of this question is mathematics, more specifically, it involves setting up and solving a system of equations. To find the number of person tubes and cooler tubes the friends rent, we'll create two equations based on the given information: the total cost and the total number of tubes.
Step-by-Step Explanation:
- Let the number of person tubes be x and the number of cooler tubes be y.
- The first equation represents the total cost of renting tubes: 15x + 7.5y = 360.
- The second equation represents the total number of tubes rented: x + y = 26.
- To solve the system, we'll use the substitution or elimination method. For simplicity, let's use the substitution method by expressing y from the second equation: y = 26 - x.
- Substitute y in the first equation: 15x + 7.5(26 - x) = 360.
- Solve for x:
15x + 195 - 7.5x = 360
7.5x = 165
x = 22. There are 22 person tubes. - Substitute x in the second equation to find y: 22 + y = 26, so y = 4. There are 4 cooler tubes.
Therefore, the friends rented 22 person tubes and 4 cooler tubes.