Problema Solution

A family has two cars. The first car has a fuel efficiency of40

miles per gallon of gas and the second has a fuel efficiency of20

miles per gallon of gas. During one particular week, the two cars went a combined total of 1600

miles, for a total gas consumption of60

gallons. How many gallons were consumed by each of the two cars that week

Answer provided by our tutors

Let

x = the gallons that the first car consumed

y = the gallons that the second car consumed

The two cars went a combined total of 1600 miles:

40x + 20y = 1600

Total gas consumption is 60 gallons:

x + y = 60

We have the following system of equations:

40x + 20y = 1600

x + y = 60

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click here to see the system of equations solved for x and y

........

x = 20 gal

y = 40 gal

First car consumed 20 gallons of gas.

Second car consumed 40 gallons of gas.