Word problem 2

Question

Party supplies inc. sells metallic balloons for $2 each  and helium balloons for $3.50 per bunch. Yesterday, they sold 36 more metallic balloons than the number of bunches of helium balloons. The total sales for both types of balloons were $281. Let b represent the number of metallic balloons sold.

 

a.) write an equation to represent the problem

 

b.) how many metallic balloons were sold

 

c.) how many bunches of helium balloons were sold.

Answer 1

You have b = # metallic balloons sold

Let a = # bunches of Helium balloons sold

 

We sold 36 more metallic balloons than Helium so  b = a + 36

 

Metallic balloons cost $2 and Helium bunches cost $3.50 and we made $281:

2b + 3.5a = 281

 

a)  Write the equation to represent the problem:

 

b = a + 36

2b + 3.5a = 281

 

b)  Solve for number of metallic balloons sold

 

b = a + 36 so  that means a = b-36

 

Substitute b-36 in place of a in the 2nd equation and solve for b

 

2b + 3.5(b-36) = 281

2b + 3.5b - 126 = 281

5.5b = 281 + 126

5.5b = 407

b = 74

 

There were 74 metallic balloons sold

 

c) How many bunches of Helium balloons were sold?

 

   a = b + 36 = 74 + 36 = 110 bunches of Helium balloons