Real World System of Equations Word Problems Using Elimination

Last season two running backs on the War Eagles football team rushed a combined total of 1550 yards. One rushed 4 times as many yards as the other. Let x and y represent the number of yards each individual player rushed. Which system of equations could be used?

• x + y = 1550

  y = 4x

• x + y = 1550

  y = x + 4

• y - x = 1550

  y = 4x

• y = 1550 + x

  y = x + 4

Dennis mowed his next door neighbor’s lawn for a handful of dimes and nickels, 80 coins in all.  Upon completing the job he counted out the coins and it came to $6.60.  Which system of equations could be used to find the exact number of dimes and nickels? 

• d + n = 6.60
  .10d + .05n = 80

• d + n = 80
  d + n = 6.60

• d + n = 80
  .10d + .05n = 6.60

• d + n = 80
  .05d + .10n = 6.60

On Monday Joe bought 10 cups of coffee and 5 doughnuts for his office at the cost of $16.50. It turns out that the doughnuts were more popular than the coffee. On Tuesday he bought 5 cups of coffee and 10 doughnuts for a total of $14.25. Which equations could be used to determine the cost of the coffee?

• 10c + 5d = 14.25
  5c + 10d = 16.50

• 10c + 5d = 16.50
  5c + 10d = 14.25

• c + d = 10
  5c + 10d = 16.50

• c + d = 5
  5c + 10d = 16.50

At a college bookstore, Carla purchased a math textbook and a novel that cost a total of $54, not including tax. If the price of the math textbook, t, is $8 more than 3 times the price of the novel, n, which system of linear equations could be used to determine the price of each book?

• t + n = 54
  t = 3n + 8

• t + n = 54
  n = 3t + 8

• t + n = 54
  t = 3n - 8

• t + n = 8
  t = 3n + 54

Some students want to order shirts with the WCHS school logo. One company charges $9.65 per shirt plus a setup fee of $43. Another company charges $8.40 per shirt plus a $58 fee. Which equation represents the number of shirts when both companies charge the same amount?

• y = 9.65 + x

  y = 8.40 + x

• y = 9.65x + 43

  y = 8.40x + 58

• y =9.65x

  y = 8.40x

• y = 9.65x - 43

  y = 8.40x - 58

Two brothers went shopping at a back-to-school sale where all shirts and shorts were the same price. The younger brother spent $175 on 7 new shirts and 7 pairs of shorts. The older brother purchased 6 new shirts and 7 pairs of shorts and paid a total of $165. How much did one shirt cost?

• $5

• $10

• $15

• $20

The sum of Mr. Micklow and Ms. Craft's age is 55.  The difference is 3.  
Solve:
x + y = 55
x - y = 3

• (26, 23)

• (26, 29)

• (29, 26)

• (29, 32)

Homer sells tickets for admission to a WCHS play and collects a total of $104. Admission prices are $6 for adults and $4 for children. He sold 21 tickets total. Solve the system of equations.

• (10, 11)

• (12, 9)

• (11, 10)

• (9, 12)

The senior class at Wayne County High School rented and filled 11 vans and 3 buses with 283 students. The senior class at Laurel High School rented and filled 12 vans and 14 buses with 770 students. How many students were on each van and each bus?

• Van 43

  Bus 14

• Van 11

  Bus 21

• Van 14

  Bus 43

• Van 17

  Bus 45

On the first night, the Movie House Theater sold 7 adult tickets and 11 child tickets for $227. On the second night they took in $150 by selling 6 adult tickets and 6 child tickets. Find the price of an adult ticket and the price of a child ticket.

• Adult $13
  Child $5

• Adult $10
  Child $6

• Adult $8
  Child $16

• Adult $12
  Child $13