document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1201392>Question 1201392</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> the ratio of pickups to cars sold at a dealership is 2 to 3. If the dealership sold 142 more cars than pickups in 1999, then how many of each did it sell </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #835744 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><B>greenestamps(13203)</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=835744\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "A general comment on this kind of problem -- as demonstrated by the two responses you have received to now.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Given a ratio of 2:3, you can let the two numbers be x and y and then solve the problem using two variables and a bunch of operations involving ugly fractions, as one tutor did.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Or you can take the given ratio of 2:3 and let the two numbers be 2x and 3x -- leading to a solution using one variable and very simple operations.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The lesson:<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Given a ratio A:B at the beginning of a problem, let the two numbers be Ax and Bx.  Virtually always (if not always) that will make solving the problem much easier.<br> </SPAN>\n" );
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