Mrs. Daniel pays $324 for a handbag and 3 pairs of shoes. The handbag cost half as much as the 3 pairs of shoes combined. Find the cost of the hand bag.

Answer 1

I set up as an equation:

(1/2)*x*3 = 324

solving for x will give you the total cost of the three pairs of shoes

x=208

324-216 = 108

hand bag is $108

Answer 2

cost of 3 pairs of shoes ---- x
cost of handbag ---------- (1/2)x or x/2

x + x/2 = 324
times 2
2x + x = 648
3x = 648
x = 216

The 3 pairs of shoes cost $216 and the handbag cost $108