Question

Difficulty: EasyLinear Equations in Two Variables

An artist sells customized prints online. The total price, yy, in dollars, for an order of xx prints is given by the equation y=8.50x+4.00y = 8.50x + 4.00, where 4.004.00 represents a flat shipping fee. If a customer's total order price is 38.0038.00, how many prints did the customer order?

Answer: 4

Answer

4
Substituting 38.0038.00 for yy in the given linear equation y=8.50x+4.00y = 8.50x + 4.00 yields 38.00=8.50x+4.0038.00 = 8.50x + 4.00. Subtracting 4.004.00 from both sides of the equation results in 34.00=8.50x34.00 = 8.50x. Dividing both sides of the equation by 8.508.50 yields x=4x = 4. Therefore, the customer ordered 4 prints.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Substitute the given total price of 38.0038.00 for yy in the equation.
38.00=8.50x+4.0038.00 = 8.50x + 4.00
The variable yy represents the total price of the order in dollars, which is given as 38.0038.00.
2
Subtract the shipping fee of 4.004.00 from both sides of the equation.
34.00=8.50x34.00 = 8.50x
Subtracting 4.004.00 from both sides isolates the variable term 8.50x8.50x.
3
Divide both sides of the equation by 8.508.50.
x=4x = 4
Dividing the remaining cost of 34.0034.00 by the unit price per print of 8.508.50 yields the total number of prints ordered.

Key Concept

Solving a linear equation in two variables for one variable when the value of the other variable is given.
Estimated Time:45s
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