Question

Professor Slughorn has created and sold three different magical potions where if a person drinks them, he or she magically can fly, breathe underwater, or read minds. He sold ten more flying potions than mind reading potions. The number of breathing underwater potions he counted was two more than three times the number of mind reading potions. If he sold a total number of 102 potions, how many were for breathing underwater?

Answer 1

56 underwater breathing potions

Step-by-step explanation:

Create variables to represent the different potions

- flying = f underwater breathing = b mind reading = m

Make equations to represent all of the information you've been given.

- The number of flying potions is ten more than the number of mind reading potions. f = r + 10

- The number of water breathing potions is two more than three times the number of mind reading potions. b = 3r + 2

- The total number of potions is 102. f+b+r = 102

Substitute the variable in your equation for the total number of potions.

102 = (r +10) + (3r + 2) + r = 102

Combine like terms.

102 = 5r + 12

Solve for r.

90 = 5r

18 = r

You have to find the number of underwater breathing potions, b. Go back the equation for b and substitute 18 for r.

b = 3r + 2

b = 3(18) + 2

b = 56

So, your total number of underwater breathing potions is 56.