Ella spent her whole allowance of $2.00, plus the 16¢ she had left over from last week, on bubble gum. If the pieces of gum had been a penny cheaper, she would have received three more pieces than she did. How many pieces did she actually buy?
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Question

anonymous · Answer

i must be tired
lets put $x$ as the cost of a piece of gum so $x-1$ is the cost if it is a penny cheaper
then i think we have to solve 
$$\frac{2.16}{x}=\frac{2.16}{x-1}+3$$ for $x$

anonymous · Answer

no that cannot be right

calculusxy · Answer

How do I solve for x?

anonymous · Answer

i think i have the 3 on the wrong side

anonymous · Answer

damn even that is wrong

anonymous · Answer

trial an error strikes again!

anonymous · Answer

$$216=2^3\times 3^3$$  is the key

anonymous · Answer

try $.09$ and $.08$ and you will see that it works

anonymous · Answer

$$\frac{216}{8}=27$$ and 
$$\frac{216}{9}=24$$