I need some help with word problems they are always my weakness in math: Angelica's service club is selling flowers for a fundraiser. Each flower costs them $0.50 to purchase. They set the sale price of each flower at the purchase price plus 40%. Write and solve an equation to determine how many flowers they will need to sell to make a profit of $500. Use complete sentences to explain what each number and variable in your equation represents. Write your solution in the context of the original problem.

Question

anonymous · Answer

I have the price they sell them for which is 70 cents a piece and the profit being 20 cents each making her having to sell 2500 flowers to make $500 in profit

mathmale · Answer

It might be a bit clearer for you if you'd use the equation

Profit = Revenue - Costs.

But first, what is your question?  It sounds as though you already know the selling price.

anonymous · Answer

So its 500=70-50? And they want me to find out how many flowers must be sold to make a profit of $500 and explain the answer.

mathmale · Answer

500 is not equal to 70-50, is it?

Let's try this approach:
1.  Write an expression for the REVENUE.  
2.  Write an expression for the COSTS.
3.  Using the above, write an expression for the PROFIT.

anonymous · Answer

im sorry I dont fully understand

anonymous · Answer

Word problems are not my forte

mathmale · Answer

Revenue is the amount of money you take in when you sell x units at price p.
Thus, Revenue = p*x
Could you write a similar function for Costs?

anonymous · Answer

I could so its like .7-.5?

mathmale · Answer

When i wrote out an expression for Revenue, I used not one but TWO literals (letters):  p and x.  why?

Your expression, .7-.5, involves only price/cost (in dollars), but no x?  Why leave out the x?
Important:  Think of what x represents here.

To re-cap:  
Revenue = (Selling price ) (number sold)

Write a similar function for Costs.
Costs = (    ?    ) (         )

anonymous · Answer

The cost to have them is .5 and so I use a variable for the amount?

mathmale · Answer

Yes:  The wholesaler purchases flowers for 50 cents each and sells x of them.
How much are the COSTS of these flowers BEFORE markup?

anonymous · Answer

Hmmm I could solve that by dividing the 500 needed profit and the cost for a flower correct ? like this: 500/.5?