SOLUTION: IF THERE WERE 32 SEATS AND 72 WHEELS, HOW MANY BICYCLES AND TRICYCLES WERE THERE?

Question 333686: IF THERE WERE 32 SEATS AND 72 WHEELS, HOW MANY BICYCLES AND TRICYCLES WERE THERE?
Answer by jrfrunner(365) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
let b=number of bicycles
let t=number of tricycles
--
given: 32 seats and 72 wheels
need: b and t
===
since each bicycle and each tricycle has one seat, there must be a total of 32 bicycles and tricycles:
first equation: b +t =32
--
Since each bicycle has 2 wheels and each tricycle has 3 wheels
second equation: 2*b+3*t=72
--
solve the first equation for one of the variables, say b
b=32-t
----
substitute b=32-t into second equation
2*(32-t) +3*t = 72
64-2t+3t=72
64+t=72
t=8
and b=32-t=32-8=24
==
there you go 8 tricycles and 24 bicycles

RELATED QUESTIONS
at a bicycle store there were a bunch of bicycles and tricycles. If there were 32 seats... (answered by edjones)