Problem Solving with systems of equations

nlj

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Jun 28, 2006
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I have a problem I CAN NOT solve...don't know if I'm just making it really hard or what. If anyone can help, please let me know! Here it is:

Problem: A company pays a total of $325 an hour when employing some workers at $20 an hour and others at $25 an hour. When the number of $20 workers is increased by 50% and the number of $25 workers is decreased by 20%, the cost per house is $400. How many workers were originally employed at each rate?
 
let x = number of workers employed at $20/hr
y = number of workers employed at $25/hr

20x + 25y = 325

number of $20/hr workers is increased by 50% ... 1.5(20x) = 30x
number of $25/hr workers is decreased by 20% ... 0.8(25y) = 20y

30x + 20y = 400

now you have a system of two equations w/ two unknowns ... solve by whatever method you were taught ... you should get x = 10 and y = 5
 
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