# Help with Linear Equations Problem

• January 9th 2011, 02:02 PM
emmaowen
Help with Linear Equations Problem
In a basketball game a field goal scores two points and a free throw scores one point. John scored 11pts in the game and David 19pts. David scored the same number of free throws as John but twice as many field goals. How many field goals did each score?

I can't seem to work this one out, I have been trying to work it out simultaneously but I don't get the right answer.
Can someone give me a jump start so I can finish the problem.
Greatly apprecitated
Thanks xoxo
• January 9th 2011, 02:10 PM
Quote:

Originally Posted by emmaowen
In a basketball game a field goal scores two points and a free throw scores one point. John scored 11pts in the game and David 19pts. David scored the same number of free throws as John but twice as many field goals. How many field goals did each score?

I can't seem to work this one out, I have been trying to work it out simultaneously but I don't get the right answer.
Can someone give me a jump start so I can finish the problem.
Greatly apprecitated
Thanks xoxo

You should label the "number of field goals" scored by John as x
and the "number of free-throws" scored by John as y.

x="number of field goals" scored.
y="number of free-throws" scored.

John

$2x+y=11$

David

$4x+y=19$

Solve for x, then y.
• January 9th 2011, 02:28 PM
emmaowen