solving word problems

Question

During an election campaign a candidate gave away 5000 advertisements. The pens cost $0.23 ea. and the bumper stickers cost $0.14 ea.  He spent a total of $970.00 for the pens and stickers.  How many pens did he give away?

Answer 1

p = number of pens

5000 - p = number of stickers

 

0.23p + 0.14(5000 - p) = 970              multiply both sides by 100 to clear decimals

23p + 14(5000 - p) = 97000

23p + 70000 -  14p = 97000

9p = 27000

p = 3000

 

Answer 2

Set up a system of two linear equations:

x...number of pens

y...number of stickers

 

Use the following information

1. total number of both is 5000

2. total cost is $970

 

Then solve for the wanted variable.

 

Hope this helps!