Question

Sylvia buys a case of water that contains 24 bottles and sells x number of bottles to her co-workers. Sam buys a case of water than contains 36 bottles and sells three times as many bottles as Sylvia sold to his co-workers. How many bottles of water did Sylvia sell if they ended up with the same number of bottles of water left over?

Record your answer in the grid below.

Be sure to use the correct place value.

Answer 1

Sylvia sold 6 bottles of water and Sam sold 18 bottles of water if they ended up with the same number of bottles left

Explanation:

Sylvia

Total bottles bought = 24

Total bottles sold = x

Bottles remaining = Total bottles bought - Total bottles sold

= 24 - x

Sam

Total bottles bought = 36

Total bottles sold = 3x

Bottles remaining = Total bottles bought - Total bottles sold

= 36 - 3x

Equate both equations

24 - x = 36 - 3x

Collect like terms

24 - 36 = -3x + x

- 12 = -2x

Divide both sides by -2

x = -12 / -2

= 6

x = 6

Sylvia Total bottles sold = x

= 6

Sam Total bottles sold = 3x

= 3(6)

= 18

Sylvia sold 6 bottles of water and Sam sold 18 bottles of water if they ended up with the same number of bottles left