At a school supply store, binders cost $5 and pencil pouches cost $2. In one day, 42 of these items are sold for total sales of $144. Which system represents this (b represents binders and p represents pencil pouches), and how many binders were sold?
A.
b + p = 144
5b + 2p = 42
82 binders
B.
b + p = 42
2b + 5p = 144
22 binders
C.
b – p = 42
2b + 5p = 144
26 binders
D.
b + p = 42
5b + 2p = 144
20 binders

Question

At a school supply store, binders cost $5 and pencil pouches cost $2. In one day, 42 of these items are sold for total sales of $144. Which system represents this (b represents binders and p represents pencil pouches), and how many binders were sold?
A.
b + p = 144
5b + 2p = 42
82 binders
B.
b + p = 42
2b + 5p = 144
22 binders
C.
b – p = 42
2b + 5p = 144
26 binders
D.
b + p = 42
5b + 2p = 144
20 binders

anonymous · Answer

Think about which system accurately defines our variables. We know that the total number of items bought is 42, and the total price is 144. Start with the first fact. Which equation shows that the total number of binders bought and total number of pouches bought is 42?

anonymous · Answer

|dw:1369170232235:dw| since there were 42 total items. Binders + pencil pouches = 42. Since the schoole made $144 (but we don't know how many of each they sold) its 5b+2p=144