Question

April buys eight books for $44. Paper back books cost $4 and hard back books cost $8. How many of
each book did she buy?

Answer 1

4 paper backs and 4 hard cover

Answer 2

Hmm -- that's not right.

4 * 4 = 16
4 * 8 = 32

16 + 32 = 48.

Ooops!

Answer 3

For this kind of problem, I usually start off with all paperbacks, thus 8*4=$32.
Since I am short 44-32=$12, and changing from a paperback to a hard-cover costs 8-4=$4, So I must have bought 3 hard-covers and 8-3=5 paperbacks.
Check: 3*8+5*4=24+20=$44.

Answer 4

And then there's the LONG way of doing it.
H = number of hard covers.
P = number of paper covers.
===========================
H + P = 8
8H + 4P = 44.
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Two equations in two unknowns. Solve for H and P.