document.write( "Question 394839: While on a four-week hiking trip in the mountains, the Tryon family washed 11 loads of clothes at The Mountain View Laundry. The 20-lb capacity washing machine costs $1.50 per load while the 30-lb costs $2.50. Their total laundry expense was $20.50. How many loads were laundered in each size washing machine? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #280187 by josmiceli(19441)\"\" \"About 
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Let \"a\" = number of loads washed in 20 pound machine
\n" ); document.write( "Let \"b\" = number of loads washed in 30 pound machine
\n" ); document.write( "given:
\n" ); document.write( "\"150a+%2B+250b+=+2050\" (in cents)
\n" ); document.write( "(1) \"3a+%2B+5b+=+41\"
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"a+%2B+b+=+11\"
\n" ); document.write( "Multiply both sides of (2) by \"3\", and
\n" ); document.write( "and subtract (2) from (1)
\n" ); document.write( "(1) \"3a+%2B+5b+=+41\"
\n" ); document.write( "(2) \"-3a+-+3b+=+33\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"2b+=+8\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"b+=+4\"
\n" ); document.write( "And, from (2),
\n" ); document.write( "\"a+%2B+4+=+11\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"a+=+7\"
\n" ); document.write( "7 loads were washed in the 20 pound machine
\n" ); document.write( "4 loads were washed in the 30 pound machine
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" );