word problem

Question

8 onions and 4 potatoes weigh as much as 5 cabbages. One cabbage weighs as much as one onion and one potato. How many onions weigh as much as one potato?

Answer 1

8*O + 4*P = 5*C       where:  O = lb/onion    P  =  lb/potato     C = lb/cabbage

 

1*C = 1*O + 1*P

 

 

substituting second equation into first equation and simplify:

 

8*O + 4*P = 5*(1*O + 1*P)

 

3*O = 1*P  therefore, you have the solution,

 

3 onions weigh as much as 1 potato