SOLUTION: In a a heated game of kickball, the third graders won by 16 points over the fourth graders. The total points scored were 38 how many points did each team score?

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Question 736206: In a a heated game of kickball, the third graders won by 16 points over the fourth graders.
The total points scored were 38 how many points did each team score?
Found 2 solutions by lynnlo, ikleyn:
Answer by lynnlo(4176) About Me  (Show Source):
Answer by ikleyn(53751) About Me  (Show Source):
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In a heated game of kickball, the third graders won by 16 points over the fourth graders.
The total points scored were 38 how many points did each team score?
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        In this post,  the problem is stated with a certain enthusiasm.
        This suggests that the response should be presented with equal enthusiasm. 


Let  x  be the points of third graders, and
let  y  be the points of fourth graders.


Write equations as you read the problem

    x + y = 38,     (1)

    x - y = 16.     (2)


Add equations (1) and (2).  The terms with 'y' will cancel each other, and you get

    2x = 38 + 16 = 54  --->  x = 54/2 = 27.


Subtract equation (2) from equation (1).  The terms with 'x' will cancel each other, and you will get

    2y = 38 - 16 = 22  --->  y = 22/2 = 11.


ANSWER.  Three-graders scored 27 points;  four-graders scored 11 points.

Solved.