at the math deli 25 magazines and newspapers sold for a total of 110 magazines are 6 $ each and newspapers cost 2 $ each how many of each were sold ?

Question

 help please

Answer 1

When there are two equations with two unknown values (how many newspapers and how many magazines), there are multiple ways to find the values.

 

Lets keep it simple:

 

1)  There are 25 total magazines and newspapers.  So, let M=number of magazines and N=number of newspapers.

      That means    M + N = 25

 

2)  The sales totaled $110.       $6 * M  + $2 * N  = $110

 

O.K., decide whether to replace M or N in in (2).  Let's choose M = 25 - N

     That means  6 * (25 - N)  + 2 * N = 110

                         150 - 6N + 2N = 110

                         40 = 4N

                         10 = N

 

and knowing N, we can find M from equation (1).  You can do that!

 

A note:  sometimes calculations are easier depending on which value you decide to substitute (so think about the choice you make), although the answer will be exactly the same.