Question 274167:  I have been trying and trying here and running in circles! I even have my brother on it: Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!! 
 - The cost of plywood sheeting recently increased by $1.39. per sheet.  A contractor purchased several for a current project and spent $166.80 total.  Six months ago, for a different project, he spent the same total but bought six more sheets than his current project.  How many sheets of plywood did the contractor but for his current project? 
  I know that he spent a total of $8.34 more.  I have x+6p=$166.80; "p" for plywood.  I  started dividing that into the total and ran into price of six.   
  This one is kicking me and I really don't think it should!! I am not even nearly on the right track!  Any help would be awesome!!   Thank you tons!! rl 
 Answer by CharlesG2(834)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! I have been trying and trying here and running in circles! I even have my brother on it: Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!! 
- The cost of plywood sheeting recently increased by $1.39. per sheet. A contractor purchased several for a current project and spent $166.80 total. Six months ago, for a different project, he spent the same total but bought six more sheets than his current project. How many sheets of plywood did the contractor but for his current project? 
I know that he spent a total of $8.34 more. I have x+6p=$166.80; "p" for plywood. I started dividing that into the total and ran into price of six.  
This one is kicking me and I really don't think it should!! I am not even nearly on the right track! Any help would be awesome!! Thank you tons!! rl
 
(p + 1.39)*x = 166.80 
p * (x+6) = 166.80 (same total but x+6 or 6 more sheets) 
(p + 1.39)*x = p * (x+6) 
px + 1.39x = px + 6p 
1.39x = 6p 
x = 6p/1.39 
(1.39/6)x = p 
((1.39/6)x + 1.39)*x = 166.80 
(1.39x^2)/6 + 1.39x = 166.80 
(x^2)/6 + x = 120 
x^2 + 6x = 720 
x^2 + 6x - 720 = 0 
(x+30)(x-24) = 0 (30*-24=-720) 
x=24 since that is the positive answer 
(1.39/6)x = p 
(1.39/6)*24 = p 
1.39 * 4 = p 
5.56 = p 
check: 
(p + 1.39)*x = 166.80 
(5.56 + 1.39) * 24 = 166.80 
6.95 * 24 = 166.80 
166.80 = 166.80 
check:  
p * (x+6) = 166.80 (24 + 6 = 30) 
5.56 * 30 = 166.80 
166.80 = 166.80 
note: 
am not sure where you got the $8.34 
 
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