SOLUTION: If a and b are different positive integers and 5a + b = 32, what is the sum of all possible values of a ? (A) 6 (B) 11 (C) 15 (D) 18 (E) 21

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Question 252889: If a and b are different positive integers and 5a + b = 32, what is the sum of all possible values of a ?
(A) 6 (B) 11 (C) 15 (D) 18 (E) 21

Answer by vleith(2983) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You could plot this and then find all the points in the first quadrant with positive values for x. then total.
Or you could just grind it out. let's grind
a must be positive. So start with 1
Plug in 1 for a and solve for b 5%2A1+%2B+b+=+32 ---> b=+32-5+=+27
Plug in 2 for a. 10%2Bb+=+32 --> b=22
Plug in 3 for a. 15%2Bb+=+32 ---> b=+17
4 yields b = 12
5 yields b = 7
6 yields b = 2
7 yields b = -3
Since both a anfd b must be postive, then values for a are 1,2,3,4,5 and 6
Sum them to get 21