document.write( "Question 916512: Mary had bought 20 bowls and plates for $96. If each bowl cost $4.50 each and the plate cost $1.50 more than the bowl. Mary had more bowls than plates.how many bowls and plates did Mary have? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #556087 by josmiceli(19441) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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Let $\"+a+\"$ = number of bowls
\n" ); document.write( "Let $\"+b+\"$ = number of plates
\n" ); document.write( "---------------
\n" ); document.write( "(1) $\"+a+%2B+b+=+20+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+4.5a+%2B+6b+=+96+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "----------------------
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+45a+%2B+60b+=+960+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+9a+%2B+12b+=+192+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "----------------------
\n" ); document.write( "Multiply both sides of (1) by $\"+9+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "and subtract (1) from (2)
\n" ); document.write( "------------
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+9a+%2B+12b+=+192+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(1) $\"+-9a+-+9b+=+-180+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "----------------------
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+3b+=+12+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+b+=+4+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "and, since
\n" ); document.write( "(1) $\"+a+%2B+b+=+20+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(1) $\"+a+=+16+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "She has 16 bowls and 4 plates
\n" ); document.write( "--------------
\n" ); document.write( "check:
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+4.5%2A16+%2B+6%2A4+=+96+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+72+%2B+24+=+96+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+96+=+96+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "OK
\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "

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