SOLUTION: Please help me solve this word problem: Jeff sells jelly in boxes, he sells a big box for $3 and a smaller box for $2. If Jeff sold 37 boxes for $96. How many more big boxes than

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Question 903806: Please help me solve this word problem:
Jeff sells jelly in boxes, he sells a big box for $3 and a smaller box for $2. If Jeff sold 37 boxes for $96. How many more big boxes than smaller boxes did he sell?
Thanks!
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let +a+ = number of small boxes he sells
Let +b+ = number of big boxes he sells
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(1) +a+%2B+b+=+37+
(2) +2a+%2B+3b+=+96+
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Multiply both sides of (1) by +2+
and subtract (1) from (2)
(2) +2a+%2B+3b+=+96+
(1) +-2a+-+2b+=+-74+
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+b+=+22+ and, since
(1) +a+%2B+b+=+37+
(1) +a+%2B+22+=+37+
(1) +a+=+15+
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+22+-+15+=+7+
He sold 7 more big boxes than small boxes
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check:
(2) +2a+%2B+3b+=+96+
(2) +2%2A15+%2B+3%2A22+=+96+
(2) +30+%2B+66+=+96+
(2) +96+=+96+
OK