Celeste wants to have her hair cut and permed and also go to lunch. She knows she will need $68. The perm costs twice as much as her haircut and she needs $5 for lunch. How much does the perm cost?

Total is 68 and the perm is 2 times as much as her haircut and her lunch is $5

so ...

2h+h+5 = 68 (add like terms)

3h+5 = 68 (subtract 5 from both sides)

-5 - 5

3h = 63 (divide by 3)

h = 21

so if her haircut is 21 dollars

21*2 = $42

her perm cost 42 dollars