the question is in description

Question

A family has two cars. The first car has a fuel efficiency of
25
miles per gallon of gas and the second has a fuel efficiency of
15
miles per gallon of gas. During one particular week, the two cars went a combined total of
1125
miles, for a total gas consumption of
55
gallons. How many gallons were consumed by each of the two cars that week

Answer 1

Let x be the number of gallons of gas used by the first car and y be the number of gallons of gas used by the second car.

 

x + y = 55 gallons

 

Since the first car drove 25x miles and the second car drove 15y miles,

 

25x + 15y = 1125 miles

 

Solving the first equation for x

 

x = 55 - y

 

and substituting into the second equation

 

25(55 - y) + 15y = 1125

 

we find that 

 

-10y = -250

y = 25

 

so the second car consumed 25 gallons

 

55 - y = x

 

and the first car consumed 30 gallons.

 

Whenever you have two variables, set up two equations, isolate one of the variables in one equation, and insert it into the other equation.  This gives you the value of one of the variables, which you can then use to find the other variable using either equation.