Find the number of hits for each player.

Question

_{Two minor league baseball players got a total of 276 hits. Washington had 6 more hits than Sanchez.}

Answer 1

First, read the problem until you understand it.  often, reading it one more time after you find the answer will help understand another problem later.

 

Then, assign variables.  If possible assign a variable to the amount the problem asks you to find.  Let:

    W = number of Washington's hits

    S = number of Sanchez's hits

 

Then, translate the words and phrases into precise, concise math expressions (variables and operations).

   "total of 276 hits"      means      W + S = 276

   :Washington had 6 more hits than Sanchez"     means

             W        =   6   +                S

 

Now, the easy math:

 

You may use the substitution method (solve for a variable in one equation, then plug that into the other equation) or the elimination method.  I like elimination:

       W    +    S     = 276

       W    -     S     =    6          (this is second equation rewritten)

  ------------------------------  (elimination; add equations)

      2W                = 282

        W               = 141   

       

       141 = S + 6          (substitute 135 for W into first equation)

       135 = S

 

Checking (very important):

  Is  W + S = 276   ?

      141 + 135 = 276   ?

         276 = 276    ? yes

  Is  W = 6 + S    ?

       141 = 6 + 135    ?

       141 =  141    ? yes