Alan needs a total of $290 to buy a new bicycle.

Question

Alan needs a total of $290 to buy a new bicycle. He has $35 saved. He earns $15 each week delivering newspapers. How many weeks will Alan have to deliver papers to have enough money to buy the bicycle?

Answer 1

Let x = the number of weeks he needs to save. Since he starts with $35, that is our constant. $15 per week is our coefficient.

Therefore, 15x + 35 = 290. Now solve for x

15x = 255

x = 17 weeks

Answer 2

I will use x to represent the number of weeks.

35 + 15x = 290

35 + 15x - 35 = 290 - 35

15x = 255

15x/15 = 255/15

x = 17