Need help with Algebraic word problem...

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if anyone can help me out with this problem, that'd be great!

A company rents bicycles, motor scooters, and dune buggies. The total number of items in their inventory is 165. There are three times as many bicycles as dune buggies, and the number of motor scooters is four less than three times the number of bicycles. Find how many of each the company has.

Any help would be great!
 
robinmae7 said:
if anyone can help me out with this problem, that'd be great!

A company rents bicycles, motor scooters, and dune buggies. The total number of items in their inventory is 165. There are three times as many bicycles as dune buggies, and the number of motor scooters is four less than three times the number of bicycles. Find how many of each the company has.

Any help would be great!
Click to expand...
You MUST be able to get started. BEFORE all else fails, please take this step -- Name Stuff!!

"Find how many of each the company has."

B = Number of Bicycles
S = Number of Scooters
D = Number of Dune Buggies

Now translate.

"The total number of items in their inventory is 165."

B + S + D = 165 <== Make sure you see this.

"There are three times as many bicycles as dune buggies"

B = 3*D <== Stare at it until it soaks in.

"the number of motor scooters is four less than three times the number of bicycles."

S = 3*B - 4

Now what?
 
let b = number of bycucles
m= no. of motor scooters
d= no. of dune buggies

from first statement
b+m+d=165

from 2nd statement
b=3d

from 3rd statement
m=3b-4

step 1: substitute 3b-4 for m in 1sr equation and b/3 for d in 1st equation
b+[3b-4] +b/3=165
13b/3=169
13b=507
b=39 answer
then d=13 and m=113

Arthur
 
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