rent is $850. two friends agree taht one will pay 1.5 times more than the other. how much will each pay.

Question

write and solve an equation to model the situation

 

Answer 1

The ratio 1.5:1 is 3/2 the majority payer will pay $3 for every $2 the the other person pays.  In other words, one pays 3/5, the other pays 2/5.  You just need to find 3/5 of $850 and 2/5 of $850.

Answer 2

Poor wording: "1.5 times more"

Either the second person is paying 1.5 times the rent of the first:

x + 1.5x = 850

2.5x = 850

x = 340

One pays $340, the other pays $510.

 

Or the second pays 1.5 times more than the first:

x + x + 1.5x = 850

3.5x = 850

x ≈ 242.86

One pays $242.86, the other pays $607.14