Algebra 1 Word Problems with Systems of Equations

Wyatt and Emerson went shopping at a back-to-school sale where all shirts and shorts were the same price. Wyatt spent $175 on 7 new shirts and 7 pairs of shorts. Emerson purchased 6 new shirts and 7 pairs of shorts and paid a total of $165. How much did one shirt cost?

• $5

• $10

• $15

• $20

Chase is running a concession stand at a WCHS soccer game. He sells nachos and sodas. Nachos cost $1.50 each and sodas cost $0.50 each. At the end of the game, Chase made a total of $78.50 and sold a total of 87 nachos and sodas combined. How much of each item did he sell?

• 35 nachos, 52 sodas

• 18 nachos, 69 sodas

• 52 nachos, 35 sodas

• 61 nachos, 26 sodas

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

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

The WCHS choral group 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

Two brothers went shopping at a back-to-school sale where all shirts and shorts were the same price. The younger brother spent $175 on 7 new shirts and 7 pairs of shorts. The older brother purchased 6 new shirts and 7 pairs of shorts and paid a total of $165. How much did one shirt cost?

• $5

• $10

• $15

• $20

The difference of a and b is 3. The sum of the variables is 13. Find the numbers.

• a = 7
  b = 10

• a = 8
  b = 5

• a = 10
  b = 13

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

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

Lisa and Tammy are selling items at the craft show.  Which might be a reasonable solution from the graph showing the number of items sold when they both have earned the same amount?

• (1, 12)

• (3, 19)

• (5, 25)

• (0, 10)