A manager has $1170 made up of twenties and fifties. The total is 36 bills. How many fifty-dollar bills does the manager have?

Answer 1

Please show me how to set this problem up. I am confused.

Answer 2

You need to set up a system of equations. No one knows how many of each type of bill there is. Let t=twenties and f=fifties.
t+f=36
20t+50f=1170

-20(t+f=36)=-20t+-20f=-720
20t+50f=1170
30f=450 f=15

t+15=36
-15 -15
t=21