Question 198332
You have exactly $537 to spend on party gifts for your rich uncle’s birthday party. You decide to get watches for the ladies (at $27.98 each), and beepers for the men (at $23.46 each).
Value Equation: 27.98W + 23.46B = 537
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 You know that the number of watches required will be 3 times as much as the number of beepers.
Quantity Equation: W - 3B = 0
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 How many of each item do you buy? …You must use algebraic techniques to solve this question…. 
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System of equations:
27.98W + 23.46B = 537
W - 3B = 0
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Multiply thru the 1st Eq. by 100 
2798W + 2346B = 53700
2798W -2798*3B = 0
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Subtract to solve for "B":
(2346 + 2798*3)B = 53700
B = 5 (# of beepers bought)
Since W = 3B, W = 15 (# of watches bought)
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Cheers,
Stan H.