When ringing up a customer, a cashier needs 16 seconds to process payment as well as 3 seconds to scan each item being purchased.Ifittakes136secondstoringupacustomer,howmanyitemsarebeingpurchased?

Answer 1

Say x = the number of items being purchased. Then we can write the equation, using seconds:

3x + 16 = 136

(3 seconds per item, plus 16 seconds to process payment, equals 136 seconds total.)

Subtract 16 from each side. Then divide both sides by 3.