Problema Solution
William says to Gracie, "If you give me $5.50, we will have an equal amount of money." Gracie responds, "That may be true, but if you give me $5.50 instead, I will have twice as much money as you." How much money did William and Gracie each have in the beginning? (Show as much work as possible)
HINT: When one person gets $5.50 the other one loses $5.50.
Answer provided by our tutors
let
w = the money that William has in the beginning
g = the money Gracie has in the beginning
William says to Gracie, "If you give me $5.50, we will have an equal amount of money." means
w + 5.50 = g - 5.50
Gracie responds, "That may be true, but if you give me $5.50 instead, I will have twice as much money as you." means
g + 5.5 = 2*(w - 5.5)
by solving the system of equations
w + 5.50 = g - 5.50
g + 5.5 = 2*(w - 5.5)
we find
g = $38.5
w = $27.5
click here to see the step by step solution of the system of equations
William had $27.5 in the beginning.
Grace had $38.5 in the beginning.