| 
 
 
| Question 298977:  A box of apples costs $2,a box of pears costs $3,and a box of plums costs $4.If 8 fruit boxes cost $23  together, what is the largest possible number of them that contain plums?
 
 Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! A box of apples costs $2,a box of pears costs $3,and a box of plums costs $4. If 8 fruit boxes cost $23 together, what is the largest possible number of them that contain plums?
 :
 Let x = no. of boxes of apples
 Let y = no. of boxes of pears
 Let z = no. of boxes of plums
 :
 no. of boxes equation
 x + y + z = 8
 :
 total cost equation
 2x + 3y + 4z = 23
 :
 Looks like 3 boxes of plums would be the max, see if that will work
 Cost for 3 boxes = $12
 :
 Adjust the equations to reflect 3 boxes of plums
 x + y = 8 - 3
 x + y = 5
 y = (5-x)
 and
 2x + 3y = 23 - 12
 2x + 3y = 11
 Replace y with (5-x)
 2x + 3(5-x) = 11
 2x + 15 - 3x = 11
 2x - 3x = 11 - 15
 -x = -4
 x = 4 boxes of apples
 then
 5 - 4 = 1 boxes of pears
 :
 We can't have less than 1 box of pears, so it has to be 3 boxes of plums
 :
 Check solutions
 4 + 1 = 3 = 8
 and
 2(4) + 3(1) + 4(3) = 23
 | 
  
 | 
 |