Problem: How many papers does each boy deliver in each week?
Matthew earns $.10 for each local newspaper he delivers twice a week.
His brother earns $.25 for delivering each Sunday newspaper.
They deliver papers to the same number of houses and together
they earn $13.95 per week. How many papers does each boy
deliver each week?
We will use x to represent the number of houses.
Matthew delivers 2x papers, earning 2x($0.10)
His brother, who has no name, delivers x papers, earning x($0.25)
Together, they earn 2x($0.10) + x($0.25) = $13.95
2x($0.10) + x($0.25) = $13.95
0.2x + 0.25x = 13.95
0.45x = 13.95
0.45x/0.45 = 13.95/0.45
x = 31
They deliver papers to 31 houses, so
Matthew delivers 2 * 31 = 62 papers, earning 62 * $0.10 = $6.20
His brother delivers 31 papers, earning 31 * $0.25 = $7.75