word problem

TD230

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Keiko spent $54 on CD's and books. She bought 2 CDs and 3 books. the books cost $2 less than the CDs. What is the cost of each book and CD?
 
Keiko spent $54 on CD's and books. She bought 2 CDs and 3 books. the books cost $2 less than the CDs. What is the cost of each book and CD?
Hmm. Are you studying algebra or arithmetic? In what grade? We want our answers to be suitable to where you are in your schooling.
 
it is for 5th grade arithmetic.
Ahh that is a tough problem for fifth grade but a simple one for beginning algebra.

I'd use the guess and check method. Do you know that one?

If you do, the big problem is finding a good first guess. Hint. How many items were bought? What was spent in total? So what was the average cost of the items?
 
Ahh that is a tough problem for fifth grade but a simple one for beginning algebra.

I'd use the guess and check method. Do you know that one?

If you do, the big problem is finding a good first guess. Hint. How many items were bought? What was spent in total? So what was the average cost of the items?

She bought a total of 5 items and the total was 54 dollars That is what were trying to figure out. we tried that and are not getting any where
 
She bought a total of 5 items and the total was 54 dollars That is what were trying to figure out. we tried that and are not getting any where
Slow down.

She bought 5 items. She spent $54.00. So on average what did she spend on each? I know that is not the exact price that she paid for anything, but it will get us close.

You did not tell me whether you have been taught guess and check.
 
Slow down.

She bought 5 items. She spent $54.00. So on average what did she spend on each? I know that is not the exact price that she paid for anything, but it will get us close.

You did not tell me whether you have been taught guess and check.

yes but when she does it it doesn't come out to 54 dollars.
 
Perhaps I am being dim. Are you saying that she does know guess and check and she made a guess and it did not check?

But that is what normally happens with guess and check. Your first guess does not work. You use the error to make a second guess and so on until you get the right answer. It can take a long time unless you make a good first guess.
 
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