At Billy's, preschool they have a total of 25 bicycles and tricycles. Among them all there are 57 wheels. How many of each are there

Question

They are 57 wheels in total together.they have a total of 25 bicycles and tricycles together 

Answer 1

Hi Melissa--

 

Call the bicycles b and the tricycles t

 

b + t = 25

 

each bicycle has 2 wheels, and each tricycle has 3 wheels, and if the total number of wheels is 57, that means...

 

2b + 3t = 57

 

We can "isolate" b by calling it "25 - t" instead, so now...

 

2(25 - t) + 3t = 57, or

 

50 - 2t + 3t = 57,

 

or 50 + t = 57, so

 

t = 7

 

So there must be 7 tricycles and therefore 18 bicycles.

 

You can check by multiplying 7 tricycles x 3 wheels, which is 21,

 

and 18 bicycles x 2 wheels, which is 36

 

36 + 21 = 57, so you're good!

 

Hope this helps.

 

Matt in NY

Answer 2

You can represent the Bicycles by B and the Tricycles by T

 

Now you know the total of the 2 types of bikes are 25 so the equation is B + T = 25

 

You also know that B has 2 wheels and T has 3 wheels and the total number of wheels is 57

 

So that equation is 2 * B + 3 * T = 57

 

I will leave you to solve these 2 equations by substitution and if you are still having trouble let me know and I will help some more.

 

All the best

 

Lori