Question

PLEASE HELP!!!!!!! A family has two cars. The first car has a fuel efficiency of 35 miles per gallon of gas and the second has a fuel efficiency of 20 miles per gallon of gas. During one particular week, the two cars went a combined total of 1450 miles, for a total gas consumption of 50 gallons. How many gallons were consumed by each of the two cars that week?

Answer 1

Answer:

The answer to your question is car 1 = 30 gal and car 1 = 20 gal

Step-by-step explanation:

car 1 = a

car 2 = b

Efficiency of car 1 = 35 mi/gal

Efficiency for car 2 = 20 mi/gal

Total distance = 1450

Total gas consumption = 50 gal

Equations

                          35a + 20b = 1450            ------- (I)

                             a   +     b =  50               ------- (II)

Solve by elimination

Multiply equation II by -35

                          35a  + 20b  = 1450

                         -35a  - 35b   = -1750

Simplify

                            0    - 15b    =  -300

Solve for b

                                        b =  -300/-15

Result

                                        b = 20

Substitute b in equation II to find a

                               a +  20  = 50

Solve for a

                               a  = 50 -20

Result

                               a  = 30