PSAT Math Multiple-Choice Question 354: Answer and Explanation

Question: 354

Two turkey burgers and a bottle of water cost $3.25. If three turkey burgers and a bottle of water cost $4.50, what is the cost of two bottles of water?

• A. $0.75
• B. $1.25
• C. $1.50
• D. $3.00

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

C

Difficulty: Medium

Category: Combination

Getting to the Answer: Translate English into math to write a system of equations with t being the cost of a turkey burger and w equaling the cost of a bottle of water. The first statement is translated as 2t + w = $3.25 and the second as 3t + w = $4.50. Now, set up a system:

You could solve the system using substitution, but combination is quicker in this question because subtracting the first equation from the second eliminates w and you can solve for t:

Substitute this value for t in the first equation and solve for w:

Two bottles of water would cost 2 × $0.75 = $1.50, which is (C).