SOLUTION: meatballs and fishballs were sold in packets, each packet containing the same number of meatballs r fishballs. meatballs were priced at 4 pieces for $1 and fish ball at 6 pieces fo

Algebra ->  Percentage-and-ratio-word-problems -> SOLUTION: meatballs and fishballs were sold in packets, each packet containing the same number of meatballs r fishballs. meatballs were priced at 4 pieces for $1 and fish ball at 6 pieces fo      Log On


   

Question 1191204: meatballs and fishballs were sold in packets, each packet containing the same number of meatballs r fishballs. meatballs were priced at 4 pieces for $1 and fish ball at 6 pieces for $1. a man had just enough money to buy 2 packets of meatballs and 1 packet of fishballs. he needed one more dollars if he were to buy 3 packets of meatballs instead. find the number of meatballs or fishballs in a packet
Answer by ikleyn(52786) About Me  (Show Source):
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meatballs and fishballs were sold in packets, each packet containing the same number of meatballs
or fishballs. meatballs were priced at 4 pieces for $1 and fish ball at 6 pieces for $1.
a man had just highlight%28precisely%29 enough money to buy 2 packets of meatballs and 1 packet of fishballs.
he needed one more dollars if he were to buy 3 packets of meatballs instead.
find the number of meatballs or fishballs in a packet
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            I made a correction in the problem's formulation
            in order for the problem would get its precise meaning. 


Let m is the price of one single meatball;  f be the price of one single fishball.

From the condition, we have  

    4m = 1  dollar;   6f = 1  dollar.      (1)


Next, let M = price of each single meatball packet; F = price of each single fishball packet.


From the condition, we have this equation

    2M + F + 1 = 3M.      (2)


Let x be the numbers of meatbaal in each meatball packet 
    (the same as the number of fishballs in each fishball packet).


Then we can re-write equation (2) in the form

    2(xm) + xf + 1 = 3(xm).


It implies

    xf + 1 = xm.          (3)


Multiply equation (3) by 24 (both sides)

    24xf + 24 = 24xm.     (4)


Next transform equation (4)

    4x*(6f) + 24 = 6x*(4m)


and replace here  6f  by 1,  4m  by  1  based on  (1).  You will get

    4x + 24 = 6x

       24   = 6x - 4x

       24   = 2x

        x   = 24/2 = 12.


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ANSWER.  Each meatball packet contains 12 meatballs;  each fishball packet contains 12 fishballs.

Solved.