SOLUTION: A retailer planned to buy some computers from a total of sh 1,800,000.Before the retailer could buy the computers the price per unit was reduced by sh 4,000.This reduction in price

Algebra ->  Equations -> SOLUTION: A retailer planned to buy some computers from a total of sh 1,800,000.Before the retailer could buy the computers the price per unit was reduced by sh 4,000.This reduction in price      Log On


   

Question 1153426: A retailer planned to buy some computers from a total of sh 1,800,000.Before the retailer could buy the computers the price per unit was reduced by sh 4,000.This reduction in price enabled the retailer to buy five more computers using the same amount of money as originally planned.
(a)determine the number of computers the retailer bought.
(b)Two of the computers purchased go damaged while in store, the rest were sold and retailer made a15% profit.calculate the profit made by the retailer on each computer.
Answer by ikleyn(52780) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.

Let x be the number of computers under the question (a).


Then your equation is


    1800000%2F%28x-5%29 - 1800000%2Fx = 4000.


having in EACH side the price difference for one single computer.


For simplicity, take off 3 zeroes in each term of the equation, measuring the money in thousands of " sh ".


    1800%2F%28x-5%29 - 1800%2Fx = 4.


You can reduce this equation to quadratic equation and to complete the solution by the Algebra way.


But you can solve it MENTALLY, by noticing that 45 and 50 are two factors of 1800, that differ by 5 units and give the quotients 

1800%2F45 = 40 and 1800%2F50 = 36 that differ by 4.


So, your answer is 50:  he bought 50 computers, finally.


CHECK.  1800%2F45 - 1800%2F50 = 40 - 36 = 4.

Solved.

Do the rest of the assignment on your own.