SOLUTION: A family has two cars. During one particular week, the first car consumed 30 gallons of gas and the second consumed 35 gallons of gas. The two cars drove a combined total of 1450 m

Algebra.Com
Question 783856: A family has two cars. During one particular week, the first car consumed 30 gallons of gas and the second consumed 35 gallons of gas. The two cars drove a combined total of 1450 miles, and the sum of their fuel efficiencies was 45 miles per gallon. What were the fuel efficiencies of each of the cars that week?
I am having trouble setting this up. Could you please help me?
Thank you.

Answer by MathTherapy(10552)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

A family has two cars. During one particular week, the first car consumed 30 gallons of gas and the second consumed 35 gallons of gas. The two cars drove a combined total of 1450 miles, and the sum of their fuel efficiencies was 45 miles per gallon. What were the fuel efficiencies of each of the cars that week?
I am having trouble setting this up. Could you please help me?
Thank you.

Let fuel efficiency for car 1 and car 2 be F, and S, respectively
Then F + S = 45 ------- S = 45 – F ------ eq (i)
Also, 30F + 35S = 1,450 ------ eq (ii)
30F + 35(45 – F) = 1,450 ---------- Substituting 45 – F for S in eq (ii)
30F + 1,575 – 35F = 1,450
30F - 35F = 1,450 – 1,575
– 5F = - 125

F, or fuel efficency for car 1 = , or miles per gallon

S = 45 – 25 ------- Substituting 25 for F in eq (i)
S, or fuel efficiency for car 2 = miles per gallon

You can do the check!!

Further help is available, online or in-person, for a fee, obviously. Send comments, “thank-yous,” and inquiries to “D” at MathMadEzy@aol.com

RELATED QUESTIONS

A family has two cars. During one particular week, the first car consumed 30 gallons of... (answered by Theo,josgarithmetic)
A family has two cars. During one particular week, the first car consumed 30 gallons of... (answered by josgarithmetic,ankor@dixie-net.com,greenestamps)
A family has two cars. During one particular week, the first car consumed 40 gallons of... (answered by josmiceli)
A family has two cars. During one particular week, the first car consumed 40 gallons... (answered by Boreal)
A family has two cars. The first car has a fuel efficiency of 30 miles per gallon of gas... (answered by josmiceli)
A family has two cars. During one particular week, the first car consumed gallons of gas (answered by stanbon)
A family has two cars. During one particular week, the first car consumed 25 gallons of... (answered by josgarithmetic)
A family has two cars. During one particular week,the first car consumed 25 gallons of... (answered by josgarithmetic)
A family has two cars. The first car has a fuel efficiency of 15 miles per gallon of gas... (answered by mananth,josgarithmetic,greenestamps)