If a baseball and a bat cost 1.10 together and the bat costs 1.00 more than the ball how much does the ball cos?

Answer 1

The ball has to cost $0.05, and the bat has to cost $1.05 because

A. $1.05 + $0.05 = $1.10

AND

B. $1.05 - $0.05 = $1.00

It is common for people who do not think through the problem to respond with $0.10, but this is incorrect because

C. Although $1.00 + $0.10 = $1.10,

D. $1.00 - $0.10 = $0.90, which is not $1.00 more, as required by the problem.

To solve the problem with algebra, it would look something like this:

Set up the equation:

x + ($1.00 + x) = $1.10

Collect like terms:

$1.00 + 2x = $1.10

Subtract $1.00 from each side of the equation to isolate the variable, x:

2x = $0.10

Solve for x:

x = $0.05

Check your work:

x + ($1.00 + x) = $1.10, so

$0.05 + ($1.00 + $0.05) = $1.10

Do the arithmetic:

$1.10 = $1.10, so the solution is valid.