One day a store sold
26
sweatshirts. White ones cost
$9.95
and yellow ones cost
$11.50.
In all,
$275.75
worth of sweatshirts were sold. How many of each color were sold?

Question

One day a store sold 
26 
sweatshirts.  White ones cost
 $9.95 
and yellow ones cost 
$11.50. 
 In all, 
$275.75 
worth of sweatshirts were sold.  How many of each color were sold?

directrix · Answer

Let  W represent a white SS
Let Y represent a yellow SS

directrix · Answer

White ones cost $9.95 so 9.95*W dollars worth of white ss were sold

 Yellow ones cost $11.50 so 11.50*Y dollars worth of yellow ss were sold

anonymous · Answer

9.95w + 11.50y = 275.75  is how I would set it up?

directrix · Answer

Yes if you want to work this problem in two equations in two variables.

If you want to work the problem in only one equation, then no.

anonymous · Answer

so which method would I use? the elimination or sub?

directrix · Answer

9.95W + 11.50Y = 275.75 
     W  + Y = 26

directrix · Answer

Sub would probably be easier. It's your call.

anonymous · Answer

I suck at that method... elimination is my choice

directrix · Answer

9.95W + 11.50Y = 275.75

 W + Y = 26   ---> W = 26 - Y

9.95* (26 - Y) + 11.50Y = 275.75

directrix · Answer

9.95* (26 - Y) + 11.50Y = 275.75
------------------------

Okay, you can do elimination.

anonymous · Answer

you lost me

anonymous · Answer

how would I solve it using one variable?

directrix · Answer

You said you would solve the problem by elimination.
I said okay.

I had already started with substitution.
So, I substituted and then used an online calculator to solve for Y.

So, if you want to stick with substitution, I'll go back and do that method by hand.

directrix · Answer

One Variable Approach:

9.95* (26 - Y) + 11.50Y = 275.75   ---> Solve that.

anonymous · Answer

lets just do it your way because I am confused

directrix · Answer

9.95W + 11.50Y = 275.75
 W + Y = 26    --------------> ---> W = 26 - Y
------------
In the first equation, substitute (26 - Y) for W 

9.95* (26 - Y) + 11.50Y = 275.75

258.70 - 9.95Y + 11.50Y = 275.75

anonymous · Answer

258.7

directrix · Answer

- 9.95Y + 11.50Y = 275.75 -258.70

1.55*Y =  17.05
         Y  = ?

What is 17.05 divided by 1.55 ?  @dontre

anonymous · Answer

11

directrix · Answer

Y = 11 so 11 yellow shirt.

How many white ones?

directrix · Answer

W + Y = 26 ---> W = 26 - Y

directrix · Answer

@dontre   Please answer the question so that we can get a wrap.

anonymous · Answer

is it 15?

directrix · Answer

Correct.

directrix · Answer

11 Yellows and 15 Whites