Helen spent $7.75 to purchase 23 snacks for a club meeting. Chips are $0.25 and pretzels are $0.50. How many of each snack did Helen buy?

Helen bought 15 chips and 8 pretzels.

Chips and pretzels = 23 snacks

Chips = x

pretzels = 23 - x

chips = $0.25

pretzels = $0.50

$0.25x + $0.50 (23-x) = $7.75

$0.25x + $11.50 - $0.50x = $7.75

-$0.25x = $7.75 - $11.50

-$0.25x = - $3.75

-$0.25x/-$0.25 = - $3.75/-$0.25

x = 15 * number of chips.

number of pretzels = 23 - x = 23 - 15 = 8

To check:

$0.25 (15) + $0.50 (8) = $7.75

$3.75 + $4.00 = $7.75

$7.75 = $7.75