Answer:
Question 1= 70p; Question 2=2
Step-by-step explanation:
Question 1) Since Tom and Ellie have equal amount, let the amount be X (in Penny)
Tom multiplied his amount by 4= 4X, he then adds 50p = 4X + 50
Ellie multiplied hers by 9= 9X, she then subtracts €3, since we are working with Penny, we have to convert €3 to Penny, which is 300p. We have 9X - 300
Since the resulting amounts of Tom and Ellie are equal, we can say
4X + 50 = 9X - 300
We then collect like terms by moving like terms in opposite direction of the equation to have,
9X - 4X = 300 + 50
5X = 350
We divide both sides by the coefficient of X, which is 5
X = 70
Hence, the amount Tom and Ellie started with is 70p.
Question 2) Let the number Alex thinks of be X
He adds 18 = X + 18
He divides the result by 2= X + 18 / 2
Since he would have gotten the same answer if he multiplied X by 5, which is 5X
We can say, X+18/2 = 5X
We then cross multiply, 2 cross multiplies 5X to give 10X while 1 cross multiplies X + 18 to give X+18
We then have, X+18=10X
We collect like terms by moving X to the opposite side of the equation
We then have 18=10X-X
18=9X
Divide both sides by the coefficient of X, which is 9
X=2
Therefore, the number Alex thinks of is 2