One day a store sold 26 sweatshirts. White ones cost $9.95 and yellow ones cost $12.50. In all, $296.95 worth of sweatshirts were sold. How many of each color were sold?

1 Answer
Nov 19, 2016

There were 11 white sweatshirts sold and 15 yellow sweatshirts sold.

Explanation:

First, let #w# represent the number of white sweatshirts sold and #y# represent the number of yellow sweatshirts sold. We can then write the following two equations:

#w + y = 26#

#9.95w + 12.50y = 296.95#

First sold the first equation for #w#:

#w + y - y = 26 - y#

#w = 26 - y#

Next, substitute #26-y# for #w# in the second equation and solve for #y#

#9.95(26 - y) + 12.50y = 296.95#

#258.70 - 9.95y + 12.50y = 296.95#

#258.70 + 2.55y = 296.95#

#258.70 + 2.55y - 258.70 = 296.95 - 258.70#

#2.55y = 38.25#

#(2.55y)/2.55 = 38.25/2.55#

#y = 15#

Finally, substitute #15# for #y# in the solution to the first equation and calculate #w#:

#w = 26 - 15#

#w = 11#