document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1202009>Question 1202009</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The debate team washed cars to raise money for a trip. They charged $8 for a large car and $5 for a small car. All together they raised $550 and washed 80 cars. How many of each type of car did they wash?<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #836640 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><B>greenestamps(13202)</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=836640\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "If you just really, REALLY love magic formulas and don't care about actually understanding how to solve the problem, use the method shown by tutor @josgarithmetic.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "If you want a typical formal algebraic solution, use something like the method shown by tutor @ikleyn.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "But if a formal algebraic method is not required, and if the speed of obtaining the solution is important, then here is a quick and easy informal method for solving any problem like this mentally.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "(1) If all 80 cars had been small cars, the cost would have been 80($5) = $400; but the actual cost was $550, which is $150 more.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2) The cost for each large car was $8-$5 = $3 more than for each small car.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(3) The number of large cars, to make the additional $150, was $150/$3 = 50.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "ANSWER: 50 large cars; 30 small cars<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "CHECK: 50($8)+30($5) = $400+$150 = $550<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );