Systems of Equations word problems

Erin is 3 years younger than twice Alex's age. Their ages combined are 33 years. How old are Alex and Erin. If x=Erin's age and y=Alex's age, choose the system that matches the situation.

• x + y = 33
  y = 2x - 3
• x + y = 33
  x = 2y - 3
• x + y = 33
  x = 3 - 2y
• x + y = 3
  x = 33 - 2y

There are 15 animals in a barn.  These animals are horses and chickens.  There are 44 legs in all.  Which system of equations represents the situation?

• x + y = 15
  4x + 2y = 44
• 4x + 2y = 15
  x + y = 44
• x = 2y + 44
  4x = y + 15
• 2x - 4y = 44
  x - y = 15

Nancy went to the grocery story.  On Monday she purchased 4 apples and 6 bananas for a total of $13.  On Wednesday she purchased 3 apples and 7 bananas for a total of $13.50.  Which system of equations represents the situation?

• 4x + 6y = 3
  13.5x - 13y = 6
• x + y = 4
  x - y = 6
• 4x + 6y = 13
  3x + 7y = 13.5
• 4x - 6y = 13
  3x - 7y = 13.5

The talent show committee sold a total of 530 tickets in advance. Student tickets cost $3 each and the adult tickets cost $4 each. If the total receipts were $1740, which system could be used to find how many of each type of ticket were sold?

• S + A = 530
  3S + 4A = 1740
• S + A = 530
  4S + 3A = 1740
• S + A = 1740
  3S + 4A = 530
• S + A = 1740
  4S + 3A = 530

Last season two running backs on the Steelers football team rushed a combined total of 1550 yards.  One rushed 4 times as many yards as the other.  Let x and y represent the number of yards each individual player rushed. Which system of equations could be used? 

• x + y = 1550
  y  = 4x
• x + y = 1550
  y = x + 4
• y - x = 1550
  y = 4x
• y = 1550 + x
  y = x + 4

Josh is thinking of two numbers.  Their sum is -10 and their difference is -2.  Which system of equations represents the situation?

• x - y = -10
  x + y = -2
• x = -2 
  y = 5
• x + y = -2
  x - y = -10
• x + y = -10
  x - y = -2

At a college bookstore, Carla purchased a math textbook and a novel that cost a total of $54, not including tax. If the price of the math textbook, t, is $8 more than 3 times the price of the novel, n, which system of linear equations could be used to determine the price of each book?

• t + n = 54
  t = 3n + 8
• t + n = 54
  n = 3t + 8
• t + n = 54
  t = 3n - 8
• t + n = 8
  t = 3n + 54

Your family goes to a restaurant for dinner. There are 6 people in your family. Some order the chicken dinner for $14.80, and some order steak for $17. If the total bill was $91, which system best represents the situation? 

• x + y = 6
  14.80x + 17y = 91
• x + y = 91
  14.80x + 17y = 6
• x + y = 6
  14.80y + 17x = 91
• x + y = 91
  14.80x+ 17y = 6

Caitlin won a bag full of money! She has 49 bills in all. She counts $1430. There are twenty dollar bills and fifty dollar bills. How many of each bill does Caitlin have?  Which system best represents the situation? 

• x + y = 1430
  20x + 50y = 49
• x + y = 49
  10x + 5y = 1430 
• x + y = 49
  20x + 50y = 1430
• x + y = 49
  x + y = 1430

The cost of 5 squash and 2 zucchini is $1.32. Three squash and 1 zucchini cost $0.75. Write a system of equations.

• 5q + 2z = 1.32
  1z = 0.75
• 5q + 2z = 1.32
  3q + 1z = 0.75
• q + z = 1.32
  q + z = 0.75
• 5q + 2z = 0.75
  3q + 1z = 1.32