SOLUTION: Two girls each want to buy bikes. Mary's money is short by 73 dollars, and Jane is short by 56 dollars. But combine the money and they can by the bike. What is the cost of the b

Question 218815: Two girls each want to buy bikes. Mary's money is short by 73 dollars, and Jane is short by 56 dollars. But combine the money and they can by the bike. What is the cost of the bike.
Answer by rapaljer(4671) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x = cost of the bike
x-73 = Mary's money
x-56 = Jane's money

The equation is based upon the fact that if you ADD their money together, the sum of their money is greater than or equal to the cost of the bike:

Subtract x from each side:

Add 129 to each side:

The cost of the bike is greater than or equal to $129.
If the bike costs $129, then Mary has x-73 or 129-73 = $56.
Jane has x-56 or 129-56 = $73.
As a checke, together they have $56 +$73 = $129, which is enough to buy the bike. If the bike costs MORE than $129, then each girl has more than this amount.

R^2

Dr. Robert J. Rapalje, Retired
Seminole State College of Florida

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