Step 3: Substitute equation(1)into(2)
3 (x+ 2) + 5x= 78
Step 4: Rearrange and solve forx
3 x+ 6 + 5x= 78
8 x= 72
)x= 9
Step 5: Substitute the value ofxback into equation(1)and solve fory
y=x+ 2
= 9 + 2
= 11
Step 6: Check that the solution satisfies both original equations
Step 7: Write final answer
One chocolate milkshake costs R 9,00 and one fruitshake costs R 11,00.
Worked example 14: Solving word problems
QUESTION
The product of two consecutive negative integers is 1122. Find the two integers.
SOLUTION
Step 1: Assign variables to the unknown quantities
Let the first integer benand let the second integer ben+ 1
Step 2: Set up an equation
n(n+ 1) = 1122
Step 3: Expand and solve forn
n^2 +n= 1122
n^2 +n 1122 = 0
(n+ 34) (n 33) = 0
)n= 34
orn= 33
92 4.5. Word problems