SOLUTION: Hi, My name is Gary Baldwin and I am having trouble setting up this word problem. I am suppose to set it up into 2 linear equations and solve them. OK, here is the problem: Two pro

Question 311444: Hi, My name is Gary Baldwin and I am having trouble setting up this word problem. I am suppose to set it up into 2 linear equations and solve them. OK, here is the problem: Two programmers are working on writing a new program that will check for viruses when incoming messages enter the company�s server. The first programmer, Sammy, plans to mark up the price of his virus program by 35%, whereas the second programmer, Martin, plans to mark up the price of his virus program by 54%. If Sammy�s program sells for $285 and Martin�s program sells for $325, who originally had the cheaper program before the price markup.
Thank you in advance for your help
Sincerely,
Gary Baldwin
Found 2 solutions by rfer, Miceandwine:
Answer by rfer(16322) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
285/1.35=$211.11
325/1.54=$211.04
Answer by Miceandwine(15) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Hey there Gary! I believe I can try to help you. Let's get started.
Well, first off, lets get the prices of the original software. I always find questions out like this in what I consider the most simple way:
(original price)(Percent of price)=(changed price)
So how I would set up one of your problems is
(x)(1.35)=(285) the reason why it is 1.35 is because it is 135% of the original price, by the way.
Then, I divide the 1.35 from both sides so the problem looks like this:
x=211.11.
So the original price of Sammy's software is $211.11. Let's move on.
Now, we'll just do the same thing for Martin.
(x)(1.54)=325 and then divide so:
x=211.04
So Sammy's is just a couple cents more expensive than Martin's!
I guess a way to make this into a linear equation would be to have the y intercept be the original price and the slope would be the percent increase, but I'm not so sure on that part. I'm so sorry!
I hope this helped you a bit!
RELATED QUESTIONS
Hi my name is Shaprice, and I having so much trouble in putting the numbers together in... (answered by sudhanshu_kmr)
Hi! I am trying to solve this age word problem and I am having trouble setting it up.... (answered by solver91311)
I AM HAVING TROUBLE SETTING UP THIS PROBLEM: "FIND THREE CONSECUTIVE ODD INTEGERS SUCH... (answered by rfer)
I am having trouble setting up the quadratic equation from this word problem. A... (answered by nerdybill,josgarithmetic)
I am having trouble with a work/rate word problem. Once my "table" is set up, I think I... (answered by drk,stanbon)
This is a word problem I am having trouble setting up. Please help! The oak street... (answered by stanbon,rapaljer)
I need to create a word problem and I am having a hard time setting up the problem once I (answered by josmiceli)
Hi! I think I got the correct answer to this word problem but am having trouble setting... (answered by ankor@dixie-net.com)
Hi, my name is Will and I am having a hard time solving systems of linear equations... (answered by MathLover1,MathTherapy)