DAY 419

Together, a hat and scarf cost $11.00. The hat costs $2.00 more than the scarf. What is the price of each?

Answer:

$6.50 for the hat and $4.50 for the scarf.........This counter-intuitive answer can be found by trial and error or algebra [x + (x + 2) = 11]. But a more interesting way to solve the problem is to divide $11.00 in half - $5.50 - and "splitting the difference" of $2.00 by going up $1.00 and down $1.00 - giving $6.50 and $4.50.

NOTE: See also DAY 57 - "bottle and cork" problem

Similar Problem:

Together, soup and a sandwich cost $3.50. A sandwich costs $1.00 more than soup. What is the price of each?

Answer:

$2.25 for the sandwich and $1.25 for the soup