Linear equations

Question

A local hamburger shop sold a combined total of 481 hamburgers and cheeseburgers on Monday. There were 69 fewer cheeseburgers sold than hamburgers. How many hamburgers were sold on Monday?

Answer 1

Hello Tay,

You have 2 variables, so the first step is to name and label them:

h = # hamburgers sold on Monday

c = # cheeseburgers sold on Monday

When you have 2 variables, you need 2 equations to solve for them.

h + c = 481

h = c + 69

We can substitute the value of h from the second equation into the first equation to get:

c + 69 + c = 481 ; Combine like terms

2c + 69 = 481 ; subtract 69 from both sides

2c = 412 ; divide both sides by 2

c = 206 cheeseburgers sold

Now, we need to find the number of hamburgers sold. Plug in the value for C into the second equation:

h = 206 + 69

h = 275 hamburgers sold

Answer 2

x + (x-69) = 481

2x - 69 = 481

2x = 550

x = 275

275 hamburgers, 206 cheeseburgers