Two step word equation

Question

Vanessa makes 7 identical flower arrangements for tables at a banquet. Each arrangement contains some roses and 9 tulips. Vanessa uses a total of 147 flowers to make arrangements. How many roses are in each arrangement?

Answer 1

In this problem we first dissect out what information is given: 

7 arrangements 

9 tulips in each arrangement 

147 total flowers 

 

We can then find out how many flowers are tulips by multiplying 9 by 7 (9 x 7 = 63) to get 63 tulips. 

 

We then know that the total number of flowers minus those flowers that are tulips are roses (by inference).

So we take 147 - 63 = 84 roses. 

 

We then know that each arrangement has an equal number of roses so we can take the total number of roses divided by the number of arrangements to get 84 / 7 = 12 roses in each arrangement. 

 

Answer 2

7 x 9 = 63 tulips

147 - 63 = 84 roses

84/7 = 12 in each bouquet