weight of boxes

Question

A fruit company delivers its fruit in two types of boxes: large and small. A delivery of
3 large boxes and
5 small boxes has a total weight of 132
kilograms. A delivery of
9 large boxes and
7 small boxes has a total weight of
279 kilograms. How much does each type of box weigh?

Answer 1

Let x = large boxes and y = small boxes

 

3x+5y=132

9x+7y=279

 

Solve the system of equations by multiplying the first equation by (-3) and adding the two equations together.

 

-9x-15y=-396

9x+7y=279

__________

-8y=-117

y=14.6≈15 kilograms (weight of small boxes)

 

Use either original equation and the weight of the small boxes to find the weight of the large boxes.

3x+5y=132

3x+5(15)=132

3x=57

x=19 kilograms (weight of small boxes)

 

Small boxes weigh approximately 15 kilograms and large approximately 19.  

 

**You could calculate this keeping the decimal points, but the probably didn't specify what place to round to.