Problem Solving

I apologize if this exists in another thread but I did search and was unable to find it.

The following problem is really giving me a hard way to go. Can someone please explain it?

The total price of a basic computer and a printer was $2500. If the same printer had been purchased with an enhanced computer whose price was $500 more than the price of the basic computer, then the price of the printer would have been 1/5 of that total. What was the price of the basic computer?

a)$1500
b)$1600
c)$1750
d)$1900
e)$2000

The answer is 'D' but again I'm not sure how this was gotten.

Thanks in Advanced!

the solution starts out with a = computer and b = printer. this gets our variables straight.

the statement gives the solution of printer and computer = 2500.

so a+b=500. the new computer and printer solution is a+500= ??????? from here I am lost. I am very curious how to solve this out!

OneMoreTime wrote:I apologize if this exists in another thread but I did search and was unable to find it.

The following problem is really giving me a hard way to go. Can someone please explain it?

The total price of a basic computer and a printer was $2500. If the same printer had been purchased with an enhanced computer whose price was $500 more than the price of the basic computer, then the price of the printer would have been 1/5 of that total. What was the price of the basic computer?

a)$1500
b)$1600
c)$1750
d)$1900
e)$2000

The answer is 'D' but again I'm not sure how this was gotten.

Thanks in Advanced!

We're told that if we spent an extra $500, the price of the printer would be 1/5 of the total.

We originally spent $2500, so with the extra $500 our new cost is $3000.

We know that the printer costs 1/5(3000) = 600.

Our original cost was $2500, so if we subtract the $600 for the printer, that means that the computer cost us $1900: choose (d).

I did it the long way around and also came up with the correct answer:

C+P=2500 (1st equation)

(C+500)+((C+500+P)/5)=C+500+P (2nd equation)

If you work them out you get P=600 and C=1900

p+c=2500
p+(c+500)=5p (since printer is 1/5 of the total)

solve for p and c - 600 and 1900

Thanks all for the help!