5 green balls and 2 red balls together weigh 10 pounds, and 1 green ball and 4 red balls together weigh 7 pounds. If all red balls weigh the same amount and all green balls weigh the same, then what is the weight of 8 red and 8 green balls together?

I'm not sure at all how to solve this one, either... please help in any way you can! Thanks! :-)

Responses

algebra - Melanii, Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 4:59pm
i kinda did ratios
5:2 =10
4:1 =7
8:8 =?

so then
2 1/2:1 =5
2:1/2 =3 1/2
4:4 =?

algebra - Chopsticks, Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 5:00pm
The red ball weighs about 1.4
the green ball weighs about 1.44

So i think 8r and 8g ball weighs about 22.72

This is not an exact measurement of each balls, just an estimate.

algebra - Rachelle, Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 5:03pm
Wow... 1/2 of a ball. :-)

I see what you were trying to get across... but our teacher never showed us a problem like this... so frustrating.

I don't know if your ratio way is exactly right, but it is a good way to straighten out the info.

Wait... I got something!
Maybe it's...

g is green and r is red.

5g + 2r = 10
g + 4r = 7

Then, if we add those together and find out what one ball weighs individually, then you just multiply it by 8! I think I got it! :-)

just reposting :):):)

algebra - Melanii, Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 5:07pm
thanks chopsticks.

yeah that makes sense... i'm gonna try it.

3 answers

ok for "r" i got 1.388888888888888(cont.)

i got (rounded) 1.4 and 1.4

those are all incorrect idiots