Systems of Equations Word Problems

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

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.  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

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

Solve the following systems of equations using substitution:

2y + x = -15

x = 3y

• (-3, -9)

• (-9, -3)

• (-3, 9)

• (9, -3)

A customer at a store paid $64 for 3 large candles and 4 small candles. At the same store, a second customer paid $4 more than the first customer for 1 large candle and 8 small candles. The price of each large candle is the same, and the price of each small candle is the same.

Which system of equations can be used to find the price in dollars of each large candle, x, and each small candle, y?

• 4y = 3x + 64

  8y = x + 68

• 4y = 3x + 64

  8y = x + 60

• 3x + 4y = 64

  x + 8y = 68

• 3x + 4y = 64

  x + 8y = 60

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.  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

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. 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