document.write( "Question 1161770: Twenty children are sharing equally the cost of a present. 4 of the children decide not to contribute, each of the other children had to pay $1.50 more.
\n" ); document.write( "How much did the present cost, in dollars? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #785375 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
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\n" ); document.write( "p = cost of present in dollars
\n" ); document.write( "p/20 = cost each person chips in if there are 20 people paying their fair share\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Four people decide to drop out, so there are 16 people left.
\n" ); document.write( "The cost per person is now p/16. This is increased by $1.50, so,
\n" ); document.write( "p/16 = (p/20)+1.50
\n" ); document.write( "p/16 - p/20 = 1.50
\n" ); document.write( "20p/320 - 16p/320 = 1.50
\n" ); document.write( "4p/320 = 1.50
\n" ); document.write( "p/80 = 1.50
\n" ); document.write( "p = 80*1.50
\n" ); document.write( "p = 120 is the cost of the present\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Let's see if we got the right answer.
\n" ); document.write( "If the present was p = 120 dollars, then twenty people will pay p/20 = 120/20 = 6 dollars each.
\n" ); document.write( "If four of them decide not to participate, then sixteen people will pay p/16 = 120/16 = 7.50 dollars each.
\n" ); document.write( "Each person pays 7.50 - 6.00 = 1.50 more dollars, which matches with what the instructions state.
\n" ); document.write( "The answer is confirmed.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Answer: the present costs $120
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