A garden table and a bench cost $654 combined. The garden table costs $96 less than the bench. What is the cost of the bench?

Answer 1

If we assign "garden table" to the variable T, and the bench to the variable B, then we could write this in math symbols to replace the words in the sentence.

"A garden table and a bench cost $654 combined." In math would be

T + B = 654

"The garden table costs $96 less than the bench." In math would be

T = B - 96

We now have 2 equations with 2 variables. Look at the bottom equation. It is T = ______

So we could replace the "T" in the top equation with everything that "T=" from the bottom equation.

(B-96) + B = 654

Now rewrite as B - 96 + B = 654, then combine like terms:

2B - 96 = 654

Add 96 to both sides

2B = 750

Divide both sides by 2

B = 375

So the bench cost $375

Let's check. The table is supposed to be $96 less than the bench. So the table should cost $279.

Together they are supposed to cost $654. So if we add the cost of the bench ($374) with the cost of the table ($279) do they sum to $654? (375 + 279 = 654) YES!

So we got the right answer, the bench cost $375.