Kandace collected 25 fewer than four times the number of Sarah’s stamps. Altogether, they collected 595 stamps. How many stamps did Sarah and Kandace collect?

Question

I think I may be doing the wrong algebraic expression cause I'm coming up with answers but they are decimals, so I know they can't be correct.

Answer 1

We're told there are a total of 595 stamps collected by Sarah and Kandace. We need to find two numbers that make 595, so let's let X be one of them and assign it to someone who stands alone, Sarah. 

Kandace collected 25 FEWER than FOUR TIMES whatever number Sarah (X) collected. 

Four times Sarah, X, gives me 4X.

25 FEWER, means less than, which tells me to SUBTRACT. 

We are left with:

Sarah = X

Kandace = 4X-25

Both of which, add up to 595. So, x+(4x-25)=595.

 

Fleshed out: 5x - 25 = 595

                   5x = 595 + 25

                    5x = 620

                     x = 124  

 

Remember, x is Sarah, so Sarah collected 124 stamps.

Kandace was Four times this, and less 25 so...

               124 x 4 = 496 

                  496 - 25 =  471

 

So, Kandace collected 471 stamps.

 

Checking to make sure it adds up: 471 + 124 = 595  :)