IXL | Guess-and-check word problems

A team from the high school went on a science-and-math quiz show. The science questions were worth 2 points and the math questions were worth 8 points. The team answered a total of 5 questions and earned 34 points. How many questions did the team answer in each category?

science questions

math questions

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Learn with an example

question

Julie went on a quiz show. The questions in the first round were worth 3 points. The questions in the second round were worth 1 point. Julie answered a total of 10 questions and earned 20 points. How many questions did she answer in each round?

first-round questions

second-round questions

solution

Use guess-and-check to solve the problem. Guess pairs of numbers that add up to 10.

Guess #1: 8 first-round questions and 2 second-round questions

Find the number of questions:

8 + 2 = 10

Find the total number of points:

(3 × 8) + 2 = 24 + 2 = 26

The guess is incorrect. Try another guess.

Guess #2: 3 first-round questions and 7 second-round questions

Find the number of questions:

3 + 7 = 10

Find the total number of points:

(3 × 3) + 7 = 9 + 7 = 16

The guess is incorrect. Try another guess.

Guess #3: 5 first-round questions and 5 second-round questions

Find the number of questions:

5 + 5 = 10

Find the total number of points:

(3 × 5) + 5 = 15 + 5 = 20

The guess is correct. Julie answered 5 first-round questions and 5 second-round questions.

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Not feeling ready yet? These can help:

N.11Solve word problems using guess-and-check

I.11Multi-step word problems with positive rational numbers

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