document.write( "Question 190608: how do u solve a typical problem like this one A park ranger spent $104 to buy 12 trees.Redwood trees cost$12 each and spruce trees cost$8 each.How many of each tree did the park ranger buy? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #143078 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x = # of trees that cost $12\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "y = # of trees that cost $8\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Since he bought 12 trees total, this means that \"x%2By=12\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Also, because \"Redwood trees cost$12 each and spruce trees cost$8\" and the total came to $104, this tells us that \"12x%2B8y=104\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So we have the system:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"system%28x%2By=12%2C12x%2B8y=104%29\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%2By=12\" Start with the first equation.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y=12-x\" Subtract \"x\" from both sides.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y=-x%2B12\" Rearrange the terms.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"12x%2B8%28-x%2B12%29=104\" Now plug in \"y=-x%2B12\" into the second equation.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"12x-8x%2B96=104\" Distribute.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"4x%2B96=104\" Combine like terms on the left side.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"4x=104-96\" Subtract \"96\" from both sides.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"4x=8\" Combine like terms on the right side.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=%288%29%2F%284%29\" Divide both sides by \"4\" to isolate \"x\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x=2\" Reduce.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So the ranger bought 2 trees that cost $12 a piece.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Since we know that \"x=2\", we can use this to find \"y\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y=-x%2B12\" Go back to the first isolated equation.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y=-2%2B12\" Plug in \"x=2\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"y=10\" Combine like terms.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So the ranger bought 10 trees that cost $8 a piece.
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