A pack of gum costs 50 cents.Write an equation that could be used to find the price of the gum 15 years ago

Question

Full Question: A pack of gum costs 50 cents. That is 4 cents less than four times what the pack cost 15 years ago.

Write an equation that could be used to find the cost of the gum 15 years ago.

Then solve and find the price of gum 15 years ago

 

Be very descriptive with your answer. I need details to understand it better.

Answer 1

Jasmine, it's exactly as it's spelled out.

 

We start with the answer, 50.

 

If g = the cost of gum 15 years ago, 4 times that is 4g. Four cents less than that is 4g - 4.

 

50 = 4g - 4

 

Now, we need to solve for g. We always do the opposite operation to BOTH sides.

 

50 + 4 = 4g - 4 + 4

54 = 4g

54/4 = 4g/4

13.5 = g

 

Well, this is odd. Apparently a pack of gum cost 13.5 cents fifteen years ago, which is impossible.