SOLUTION: A basket with 42 watermelon has a mass of 81950 gms. The same basket with 31 watermelon has a mass of 61165 GM's. If each watermelon has the same mass, what is the mass of basket?

Algebra ->  Coordinate Systems and Linear Equations  -> Linear Equations and Systems Word Problems -> SOLUTION: A basket with 42 watermelon has a mass of 81950 gms. The same basket with 31 watermelon has a mass of 61165 GM's. If each watermelon has the same mass, what is the mass of basket?      Log On


   

Question 1032775: A basket with 42 watermelon has a mass of 81950 gms. The same basket with 31 watermelon has a mass of 61165 GM's. If each watermelon has the same mass, what is the mass of basket?
Answer by fractalier(6550) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Call x the mass of the watermelons and y the mass of the basket. We have
42x + y = 81950 and
31x + y = 61165
Now subtract them and get
42x + y = 81950
-(31x + y = 61165)
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11x = 20785
x = 1889.5 g
y = 81950 - 42(1889.5) = 2589 g