document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1154156>Question 1154156</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Bob wants to buy 5 packages of batteries. He has $25 to spend. Each regular package of batteries costs $4.25 and each alkaline package of batteries costs $5.50. How many packages of each type of battery can he buy? *<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #776552 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><B>greenestamps(13200)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=greenestamps><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=776552\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Note the problem only says he has $25 TO SPEND; it does not say he has to spend the whole $25.  So he can buy<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "(a) 5 packages of regular batteries: 5($4.25) = $21.25; or<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(b) 4 of regular batteries and 1 of alkaline: 4($4.25)+1($5.50) = $22.50; or<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(c) 3 of regular and 2 of alkaline: 3($4.25)+2($5.50) = $23.75; or<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(d) 2 of regular and 3 of alkaline: 2($4.25)+3($5.50) = $25<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Obviously if he is supposed to spend the whole $25 the last option is the right one....<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Also note that if he is supposed to spend the whole $25, there are many ways to get to the answer without formal algebra.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "You could, of course, list all the possible combinations of 5 packages and find the one that costs a total of $25.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "I solved this mentally three different ways before writing my response.  My first solution went like this:<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "(1) with prices of $4.25 and $5.50, and a total cost of $25.00, the number of packages at $4.25 can't be an odd number;<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2) so the number of packages of regular batteries must be either 2 or 4;<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(3) and trying those two possibilities shows the correct answer is 2 packages of regular an 3 of alkaline.<br><BR>\n" );
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