Question 335935
A caterer is planning a party for 64 people. The customer has $150 to spend. A $39 pan of pasta feeds 14 people and a $12 sandwich tray feeds 6 people. How many pans of pasta and how many sandwich trays should the caterer make?
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People Equation: 14p + 6t = 64 people
Value Equation:  39p + 12t = 150 dollars
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Multiply thru the 1st equation by 12.
Multiply thru the 2nd equation by 6.
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12*14p + 12*6t = 12*64
6*39p  + 6*12t = 6*150
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Subtract 1st from 2nd and solve for "p":
66p = 132
p = 2 (# of pans of pasta needed)
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Substitute into 14p+6t = 64 and solve for "t":
28 + 6t = 64
6t = 36
t = 6 (# of sandwich trays needed) 
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Cheers,
Stan H.