Question 1151699
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(1) Solving with formal algebra....<br>
Let x = number of hot water bottles
Then 4x = number of thermometers<br>
The cost of 4x thermometers at $6 each and x hot water bottles at $2 each was $2132.<br>
{{{4x(6)+x(2) = 2132}}}
{{{24x+2x = 2132}}}
{{{26x = 2132}}}
{{{x = 2132/26 = 82}}}<br>
ANSWER:
The number of hot water bottles sold was x=82.
The number of thermometers sold was 4 = 328.<br>
CHECK:
82(2)+328(6) = 164+1968 = 2132<br>
(2) An informal solution method, which leads to virtually the same calculations....<br>
Since the number of thermometers sold was 4 times the number of hot water bottles, imagine "packages" each containing 4 thermometers and one hot water bottle.
The cost of each of those packages is 4($6)+1($2) = $24+$2 = $26.
The number of those packages sold to make $2132 is 2132/26 = 82.
82 packages each containing 4 thermometers and 1 hot water bottle makes a total of 328 thermometers and 82 hot water bottles.<br>