The three Math Idol judges have been eliminating contestants all day! The number of one-step equations and two-step equations who have been eliminated today is equal to 1120. If three times the number of one-step equations minus twice the number of two-step equations is equal to 1300, how many two-step equations auditioned today?

Question

anonymous · Answer

There are two unknowns - number of one- and two-step equations. Call them o and t.

So, what do we know about o and t? They add up to 1120.
We also know from the later sentence that thrice o minus twice t equals 1300.

Two equations and two unknowns. Time to solve them simultaneously.