Systems of Equations Word Problems

The school that Stefan goes to is selling tickets to a choral performance. On the first day of ticket sales the school sold 3 senior citizen tickets and 1 child ticket for a total of $38. The school took in $52 on the second day by selling 3 senior citizen tickets and 2 child tickets. Let s and c represent the two different types of tickets.

Which equations represents the system that could be used?

• 1s + 3c = 38

  2s + 3c = 52

• 3s + 1c = 38

  3s + 2c = 52

• s + c = 38

  s + c = 52

• 3s + 3c = 38

  1s + 2c = 52

Dennis mowed his next door neighbor’s lawn for a handful of dimes and nickels, 80 coins in all. Upon completing the job he counted out the coins and it came to $6.60. Let d and n represent the two different coins.

Which system of equations could be used to find the exact number of dimes and nickels?

• d + n = 6.60

  .10d + .05n = 80

• d + n = 80

  d + n = 6.60

• d + n = 80

  .10d + .05n = 6.60

• d + n = 80

  .05d + .10n = 6.60

On Monday Joe bought 10 cups of coffee and 5 doughnuts for his office at the cost of $16.50. It turns out that the doughnuts were more popular than the coffee. On Tuesday he bought 5 cups of coffee and 10 doughnuts for a total of $14.25. Let c and d represent the coffee and the doughnuts.

Which equations could be used to determine the cost of the coffee?

• 10c + 5d = 14.25

  5c + 10d = 16.50

• 10c + 5d = 16.50

  5c + 10d = 14.25

• c + d = 10

  5c + 10d = 16.50

• c + d = 5

  5c + 10d = 16.50

A large pizza at Palanzio’s Pizzeria costs $6.80 plus $0.90 for each topping.The cost of a large cheese pizza at Guido’s Pizza is $7.30 plus $0.65 for each topping. Let x and y represent the the toppings and the cost.

Which system of equations could be used to find the number of toppings when both companies cost the same amount?

• y = 6.80 + .65x

  y=7.30+.90x

• x + y = 6.80

  x + y = 7.30

• y = 6.80+.90x

  y = 7.30 + .65x

• y + .90x = 6.80

  y + .65x = 7.30

At a restaurant the cost for a breakfast taco and a small glass of milk is $2.10. The cost for 2 tacos and 3 small glasses of milk is $5.15. If a system of equations is written, which would be the correct representation of the 2 variables? 

• t: # of tacos
  m: # of glasses of milk
• t: Cost of each taco
  m: Cost of each glass of milk
• t: total cost
  m: # of food items
• t: Cost of each glass of milk
  m: Cost of each taco

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

Some students want to order shirts with their school logo. One company charges $9.65 per shirt plus a setup fee of $43. Another company charges $8.40 per shirt plus a $58 fee. Which equation represents the number of shirts when both companies charge the same amount? 

• y = 9.65 + x
  y = 8.40 + x
• y = 9.65x + 43
  y = 8.40x + 58
• y =9.65x
  y = 8.40x
• y = 9.65x - 43
  y = 8.40x - 58

Caitlin won a bag full of money! She has 49 bills in all. She counts $1430. There are $20 bills and $50 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

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