<PRE><B>Question 731595</B>
When the circus came to town last year, they hired general labors
 at $70 per day and mechanics at $90 per day.
 They paid $1950 for this temporary help for one day.
 This year they hired exactly the same number of people of each type,
 but they paid $80 for general labors and $100 for mechanics for one day.
 This year they paid $2200 for temporary help.
 How many general laborers did they hire?
How many mechanics did they hire?
:
Let g = no. of general laborers
Let m = no. of mechanics
:
Write an equation for each year
70g + 90m = 1950
simplify, divide by 10
7g + 9m = 195
:
and this year:
80g + 100m = 2200
simplify, divide by 20
4g + 5m = 110
:
multiply the 1st simplified equation by 4, the 2nd by 7
28g + 36m = 780
28g + 35m = 770
------------------subtraction eliminates g, find m
1m = 10 mechanics
then
4g + 5(10) = 110
4g = 110 - 50
4g = 60
g = 60/4
g = 15 gen laborers. 
:
;
Check solutions in the 1st original equation
70g + 90m = 1950
g=15; m=10
70(15) + 90(10) = 
1050 + 900 = 1950; confirms our solutions</PRE>