Question

Kenya plans to make a down payment plus monthly payments in order to buy a motorcycle. At one dealer she would pay $2,450 down and $175 each month. At another dealer, she would pay $3,150 down and $150 each month. After how many months would the total amount paid be the same for both dealers? What would that amount be?
After ___ months Kenya will have paid $ ___ for the bike at either dealer.

Answer 1

First, you write out the equation which is 2450+175x=3150+150x
Then you would move the variables to one side and if you move a variable, the smaller the better
2450+175x=3150+150x
          -150x           -150x
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2450+25x=3150

Then subtract 2450 on both sides to leave the variable alone and you would get :
25x=700

Then you would divide both sides by 25 and you would get 28 so the answer would be:
After 28 months Kenya will have paid $7350 for the bike at either dealer.