kbpaulie Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 Can someone help me figure these out - using algebra? I'm not seeing it! Lucy spent 3/5 of her money on a handbag. She spent the rest of the money on a dress and belt. The handbag cost twice as much as the dress. the dress cost $20 more than the belt. How much money did she have at first? Gary spetn $48 on a watch. He spent 1/3 of the remainder on a pen. If he still and 1/2 of his money left, how much money did he have at first? Thanks - "Cluless w/ an engineering degree" :tongue_smilie::bigear: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snickerdoodle Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 What does the answer say? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forty-two Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 (edited) Can someone help me figure these out - using algebra? I'm not seeing it! Lucy spent 3/5 of her money on a handbag. She spent the rest of the money on a dress and belt. The handbag cost twice as much as the dress. the dress cost $20 more than the belt. How much money did she have at first? |------h------|-d----|-b| |---handbag-|--d&b---| |----|----|----|----|----| Handbag = 3 units; dress = 1.5 units Dress and belt = 2 units, so belt = 0.5 units Dress costs 1 unit more than belt, so 1 unit = $20 Total of 5 units, so $100 at first. Edited October 23, 2012 by forty-two Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennynd Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 Can someone help me figure these out - using algebra? I'm not seeing it! Lucy spent 3/5 of her money on a handbag. She spent the rest of the money on a dress and belt. The handbag cost twice as much as the dress. the dress cost $20 more than the belt. How much money did she have at first? Gary spetn $48 on a watch. He spent 1/3 of the remainder on a pen. If he still and 1/2 of his money left, how much money did he have at first? Thanks - "Cluless w/ an engineering degree" :tongue_smilie::bigear: So, 2/3 of the rest is 1/2 of total. If u. Draw the bar |---48---|-1/3-|-1/3-|-1/3-| |------1/2------|----1/2-----| |---48---|-1/4-|-1/4-|-1/4-| So, there 48 is 1/3 and total is 48*4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 Define symbols for all variables and translate everything you know into equations: Lucy spent 3/5 of her money on a handbag. She spent the rest of the money on a dress and belt. The handbag cost twice as much as the dress. the dress cost $20 more than the belt. How much money did she have at first? T= total, H= handbag, D= dress, B= belt The following is given: 3/5 T= H 2/5 T= D+B H=2D D=B+20 Put everything together: D+B= (B+20) +B= 2B+20= 2/5 T H= 2(B+20)= 2B+40 = 3/5 T You now have two equations with two unknowns: 2B+20 = 2/5 T 2B+40= 3/5 T There are different ways to solve this. The easiest is to subtract the second from the first equation and obtain: 20= 1/5 T so T= 100 Let's check the answer: 3/5 of 100 is 60, spent on handbag 2/5 of 100 is 40, for dress and belt. dress is belt + 20, so dress for 30 and belt for 10. Gary spetn $48 on a watch. He spent 1/3 of the remainder on a pen. If he still and 1/2 of his money left, how much money did he have at first? T= totalMoney spent is: 48+ 1/3 (T-48) = 1/2 T One equation for one unknown, solve: 48 + 1/3 T -1/3*48= 1/2 T 48 - 16 =1/2 T- 1/3 T 32= 1/6 T T= 6*32 T=192 Check: 192-48=144 money left after watch 1/3*144=48 third of leftover, spent on pen 144-48=96 left which is half of 192. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snickerdoodle Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 Ya'll are quick. Here's my pretty picture to go with it. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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