word problem to be solved by systems of equations

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lewysangel

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The gorilla and the orangutan are the heaviest ot the world's apes. 2 gorillas and 3 orangutans weigh 1465 lbs. A gorilla's weight increased by an orangutan's weight is 815 lbs. Find the weight of each ape.

I put x for gorilla and y for orangutan so

2x + 3y = 1465

and for the second equation I put

x + y = 815

The teacher says that my second equation is worng. Please Help!!!
 
Definitions are bad, too, but your have definitions. That is GREAT.

You do not really mean that a collection of gorillas and orangutans constitutes a number, do you? Let's do a better definition.

x = WEIGHT of one Gorilla
y = WEIGHT of one Orangutan

Now, 2x + 3y = 1465 lbs

Further, x + y = 815 lbs

There is an important assumption, here. It is that ALL gorillas weigh the same, so also ALL orangutans. That's a pretty weird assumption.
 
lewysangel said:
The gorilla and the orangutan are the heaviest ot the world's apes. 2 gorillas and 3 orangutans weigh 1465 lbs. A gorilla's weight increased by an orangutan's weight is 815 lbs. Find the weight of each ape.
I put x for gorilla and y for orangutan so
2x + 3y = 1465
and for the second equation I put
x + y = 815
The teacher says that my second equation is worng. Please Help!!!
Click to expand...
There's something quite wrong with that problem, lewy:
if 2 animals weigh 815, then the other 3 weigh 1465 - 815 = 650 :
does that make sense to you?
 
lewysangel said:
That is why I asked for help. It did not make sense to me either.
Click to expand...

Did you solve for 'x' and 'y'?

Then you would have seen clearly why the question as posted is impossible!!
 
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