Briana needs $73 more dollars to buy the bike. Molly needs $65 more. What is the price of the bike?

Question

Briana and Molly want to buy the same model bicycle. Briana needs $73 more dollars to buy the bike. Molly needs $65 more. If they combine their money, they will have just enough to buy one bicycle they could share. What is the price of the bicycle? Write an equation to solve the problem.

Answer 1

  Brianna has X-73 and Molly has X-65 where X is the price of the bike.

 

  X = (X-73) + (X-65)

 

 X = 2x - 138

 

 0 = 2x - 138 - x

 

 0 = x - 138

 

X = 138

 

The the price of the bike is $138

Answer 2

b represents the cost of the bike

b - 73 represents how much money Briana has

b - 65 represents hos much money Molly has

 

b - 73 + b -  65 = b

2b - 138 = b

2b = b + 138

b = 138