Ms. Patel spent $34 to buy a total of 10 packs of M&Ms and paper clips for her students. If the M&M bags were $3 and the paper clips were $4, how many of each did she buy?

1 Answer
Jun 22, 2018

Use the elimination method to solve for the variables

Explanation:

First set up your equations with the information you're given:

3x + 4y = 34 " "3x+4y=34 (money spent)
x + y = 10" "x+y=10 (number of packs)

Multiply the second line by -33 in order to cancel out the xx term.

-3x - 3y = -303x3y=30

Now add the equations together (the xx terms cancel out)

3x - 3x + 4y - 3y = 34 - 303x3x+4y3y=3430

y = 34 - 30y=3430

y = 4y=4

Now plug this value into the original equation to get your xx value

x = 10 - yx=10y

x = 10 - 4x=104

x = 6x=6

DOUBLE CHECK:

3(6) + 4(4) 3(6)+4(4)

= 18 + 16=18+16

= 34=34