Question

Dante and Mia have a total of 350 pennies in their piggy banks, altogether. After Dante lost half of his pennies and Mia lost one third of her pennies, they both had an equal amount of pennies left. How many pennies did they lose altogether?

Answer 1

150 pennies were lost altogether

Explanation:

Let the initial number of pennies owned by Dante be x pennies

Let the initial number of pennies owned by Mia be y pennies

Mathematically ;

x + y = 350 •••••••(i)

So after losing half, dante will have x/2 pennies left.

Mia lost 1/3 so she will have 2/3y left

So after all the losses, they both had equal amount of pennies

This means that;

x/2 = 2y/3

Cross multiply;

3x = 4y •••••••(ii)

Let’s solve both equations simultaneously;

From i , x = 350-y

Substitute this into equation ii

3(350-y) = 4y

1050-3y = 4y

7y = 1050

y = 1050/7

y = 150

since x = 350-y

x = 350-150 = 200

Now Dante loss x/2 = 200/2 = 100

Mia lost 1/3y = 1/3 * 150 = 50

Total pennies lost = 100 + 50 = 150