document.write( "Question 439582: Gerry wants to put enough money aside to pay all of his july and august utility bills. His summer gas bills are usually about half of his winter bills. His winter gas bills average $142 per month. His electric bills are about $26 higher each month in summer than in winter. His winter electric bills average $52 per month. About how much should Gerry put aside to pay his july and august utility bills? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #303773 by josmiceli(19441) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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Let $\"g%5Bs%5D\"$ = average monthly summer gas bill
\n" ); document.write( "Let $\"g%5Bw%5D\"$ = average monthly winter gas bill
\n" ); document.write( "Let $\"e%5Bs%5D\"$ = average monthly summer electric bill
\n" ); document.write( "Let $\"e%5Bw%5D\"$ = average monthly winter electric bill
\n" ); document.write( "given:
\n" ); document.write( "(1) $\"+g%5Bw%5D+=+142+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+e%5Bw%5D+=+52+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(3) $\"+g%5Bs%5D+=+%281%2F2%29%2Ag%5Bw%5D+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(4) $\"+e%5Bs%5D+=+e%5Bw%5D+%2B+26+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "-----------------
\n" ); document.write( "There are 4 equations and 4 unknowns, so it's solvable
\n" ); document.write( "Substitute (1) in (3)
\n" ); document.write( "(3) $\"+g%5Bs%5D+=+%281%2F2%29%2A142+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+g%5Bs%5D+=+71+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Substitute (2) in (4)
\n" ); document.write( "(4) $\"+e%5Bs%5D+=+52+%2B+26+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+e%5Bs%5D+=+78+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "------------
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+2%2A%28g%5Bs%5D+%2B+e%5Bs%5D%29+=+2%2A%28+71+%2B+78%29+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+2%2A%28g%5Bs%5D+%2B+e%5Bs%5D%29+=+298+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "For July and August, he should set aside $298 \n" ); document.write( "

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