In an egg and spoon race, children must transport eggs from one end of a course to the other. Points are awarded for each successfully transported, and points are deducted for each egg which drops and breaks.

Question

Jenny transported 5 eggs and dropped 2 eggs for a score of 11 points. Heath transported 8 eggs and dropped 5 eggs, for a score of 5 points.
How many points are deducted for dropping an egg?

How can I solve this problem?
Please help me...

Answer 1

use elimination method in Algebra
Let x be the transported
Let y be the dropped
then make the equation
5x + 2y = 11
8x + 5y = 5
----------------
-8 (5x + 2y = 11)
+5 (8x + 5y = 5)
--------------------
-40x - 16y = -88
+40x + 25y = +25
____________________
+ 9y = -63
----------- divide by 9
9 9
____________________
y = -7
so 7 points were deducted

Answer 2

Thank you very much!