SOLUTION: There are 850 Douglas fir and ponderosa pine trees in a section of forest bought by Sawz Logging Co. The company paid an average of $300 for each Douglas fir and $225 for each pond

Algebra ->  Coordinate Systems and Linear Equations  -> Linear Equations and Systems Word Problems -> SOLUTION: There are 850 Douglas fir and ponderosa pine trees in a section of forest bought by Sawz Logging Co. The company paid an average of $300 for each Douglas fir and $225 for each pond      Log On


   

Question 1862: There are 850 Douglas fir and ponderosa pine trees in a section of forest bought by Sawz Logging Co. The company paid an average of $300 for each Douglas fir and $225 for each ponderosa pine. If the company paid $217,500 for the trees, how may of each kind did the company buy?
How do I solve when I have two factors?
Found 2 solutions by rockinrebels04, longjonsilver:
Answer by rockinrebels04(3) About Me  (Show Source):
Answer by longjonsilver(2297) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let d = number of Douglas fir
Let p = number of pines
we know that d + p = 850 --eqn1
also, 300d + 225p = 217500 --eqn2
Re-arrange eqn1 for d, d=850-p and then put this into eqn2, so 300(850-p) + 225p = 217500.
Multiply out the bracket, gives 255000-300p + 225p = 217500. Collect terms together, -75p = -37500. Hence p=500 and from eqn1, d=350.
cheers
Jon.