Gillian purchased 25 books at the library book sale . Each handcover book cost $1.50, and each paperback book cost $0.50. Gillian spent a total of $26.50. how many paperback books did Gillian buy ?
+128474 Let the number of paperback books = x
Then the number of hardcover books = 25 - x
So.....we have
number of hardcover * cost each + number of paperbacks * cost each = total cost
So
(25 - x) * 1.50 + x * .50 = 26.50 simplify
37.5 -1.50x + .50x = 26.50
37.5 - x = 26.50 subtract 37.5 from both sides
-x = -11 multiply thrugh by -1
x =11 = number of paperbacks purchased
