Question

An office manager reported that he spent $350 on gifts for employees. He said that $240 was spent on clothing with each man receiving a $20 T-shirt and each woman receiving a $40 sweatshirt. He said that $110 was spent on desk accessories with each man receiving a $5 calendar and each woman receiving a $15 stapler. If m equals the number of men and wequals the number of women, the system of equations that represents the expenses is as follows:

m+2w=12

m+3w=22

Solve the system, showing all steps, and then discuss the reasonableness of the answer.

Answer 1

The correct answer is the solution of the system of equations are w = 10 and m = -8. The answer is not at all reasonable.

Explanation:

The two system of equations are m + 2w = 12 and m + 3w = 22 where m and w represent the number of men and women working in an office.

We subtract both the sides with each other in order to solve the system of equation.

⇒ m + 3w - m - 2w = 22 - 12

⇒ w = 10.

⇒ m = -8.

The values of w and m are not reasonable at all. Since m and w represent the number of men and women in an office, they cannot be less than zero.