Problem 50 - Introductory and Intermediate Algebra for College Students 4th

Question

Write an original word problem that can be solved using a linear equation. Then solve the problem.

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The total cost for 5 pairs of jeans after the discount is 250 dollars.

Step 1: Problem Development

Let's devise the following problem: 'A local clothing store holds a sale wherein every item costs 20 dollars off the original price. If a pair of jeans originally cost 70 dollars, how much would 5 pairs of the jeans cost, after discount?' This problem can be solved by using a linear equation.

Step 2: Formulate the Linear Equation

The problem can be represented by a linear equation. The original price for the jeans is 70 dollars. After the discount is applied, each pair cost 70 - 20 = 50 dollars. If one buys 5 pairs, the total cost would be represented by the equation \( C = 50 * n \), where \( C \) is the total cost and \( n \) is the number of jeans bought.

Step 3: Solve the Linear Equation

Substituting \( n = 5 \) into the equation \( C = 50 * n \), we get \( C = 50 * 5 = 250 \). Hence, the total cost for 5 pairs of jeans, after the discount, is 250 dollars.