Question

Sihui and Mark have $16 altogether. If Sihui has $2 more, she will have half as much as Mark. How much money does each of them have? (Use the elimination method to show the solution set)

Answer 1

Sihui has $4 and Mark has $12.

Explanation:

Let the amount that Sihui has be s.

Let the amount that Mark has be m.

Sihui and Mark have $16 altogether. This means that:

s + m = 16

If Sihui has $2 more, she will have half as much as Mark. This means that:

s + 2 = m/2

=> s = m/2 - 2

By process of elimination, put this value of s in the first equation:

m/2 - 2 + m = 16

=> 3m/2 = 16 + 2 = 18

m = (18 * 2) / 3

m = 36 / 3 = $12

=> s = 12/2 - 2

s = 6 - 2 = $4

Sihui has $4 and Mark has $12.