Math Problem Statement
6 pencils and 5 crayons are 32.0 inches. 7 pencils and 6 crayons are 37.7 inches. Each pencil is the same length as the other pencils, and each crayon is the same length as the other crayons. What is the length of 1 pencil? What is the length of 1 crayon?
Solve on paper. Then check your work on Zearn.
1 pencil is inches.
1 crayon is inches.
Solution
To find the length of one pencil and one crayon, let's set up a system of equations based on the information given.
Let:
- represent the length of one pencil (in inches)
- represent the length of one crayon (in inches)
The problem gives us two equations:
We can solve this system using either substitution or elimination. I'll use elimination here:
Step 1: Eliminate one variable
To eliminate , we can multiply the first equation by 6 and the second equation by 5, so the coefficients of will be the same in both equations.
Step 2: Subtract the equations
Now, subtract the second equation from the first to eliminate :
This simplifies to:
So, the length of one pencil, , is 3.5 inches.
Step 3: Substitute to find
Now that we know , substitute it back into one of the original equations to solve for . Using the first equation:
Subtract 21.0 from both sides:
Divide by 5:
So, the length of one crayon, , is 2.2 inches.
Final Answer
- Length of one pencil: 3.5 inches
- Length of one crayon: 2.2 inches
Would you like further details on this solution or have any questions?
Related Questions for Practice:
- If 10 pencils and 8 crayons were used, what would be the total length?
- What if the lengths were in centimeters instead? How would you convert?
- How would the solution change if the total lengths were given in different units?
- Can you set up a similar problem with two unknowns but using weights instead of lengths?
- How would you solve this problem using substitution instead of elimination?
Tip: When solving systems of equations, always double-check by substituting your values back into the original equations to ensure accuracy.
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Algebra
Systems of Linear Equations
Formulas
Linear equation: ax + by = c
Theorems
Elimination method in systems of equations
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 7-9
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