Brent had $26 when he went to the fair. After playing 5 games and then 2 more, he had $15.50 left. How do you solve #15.50=26-5p-2p# to find the price for each game?

2 Answers
Jun 23, 2017

$1.50

Explanation:

1. Combine like terms.

#-5p# and #-2p# can be combined to make #-7p#, so now the equation is

#15.50 = 26 - 7p#

This makes sense because he played 5 games, then 2 more, so that's 7 games in total.

2. Subtract 26 from both sides to isolate the variable #p#.

#15.50 color(blue)( - 26) = 26 - 7p color(blue)(- 26)#

#-10.5 = -7p#

3. Divide both sides by #-7# to find the value of #p#.

#(-10.5)/-7 = (-7p)/-7#

#1.5 = p#

The price of each game is $1.50.

Hope this helps!

Jun 23, 2017

#p=1.50#

Explanation:

First, combine like terms. We have #-5p# and #-2p#. Combine their coefficients:

#-5p-2p=(-5-2)p=-7p#

So now we have:

#15.50=26-7p#

Subtract #26# on both sides to isolate the #p#s:

#15.50-26=26-7p-26#

This becomes:

#-10.50=-7p#

Now divide both sides by #-7#:

#-10.50/-7=-7p/-7#

This becomes:

#1.5=p#

So each game costs #1.50#