Question 67535

I BELIEVE THE COST OF OF EACH PONDEROSA WAS ACCIDENTLY OMITTED FROM THIS PROBLEM.  IF IT WAS, THEN SUBSTITUTE THAT VALUE INTO THE EQUATION FOR Z. 




Let x=number of Douglas Fir
Then 850-x=number of Ponderosa
$300=cost of each Douglas Fir
$Z=cost of each Ponderosa  (I BELIEVE THAT THIS VALUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN)
We know that Z(850-x)=total cost of the Ponderosa
And $300x=total cost of of the Douglas Fir


Now we are told that the total cost of the ponderosa Z(850-x) plus the total cost of the Douglas Fir 300x equals $217,500.  So our equation to solve is:

Z(850-x)+300x=$217,500  clear the parens:

850Z-Zx+300x=$217,500  subtract 850Z from both sides:

300x-Zx=$217,500-850Z
x(300-Z)=217,500-850Z  divide both sides by (300-Z)

x=(217,500-850Z)/(300-Z)-------------number of Douglas Fir
850-x equals------------------------number of Ponderosa



Hope this helps----ptaylor