PSAT Math Multiple-Choice Question 519: Answer and Explanation

Question: 519

A secondhand sports store sells two types of softball equipment: gloves for $20 each and bats for $50 each. On a particular day, the store sold 52 pieces of softball equipment for a total of $1,700. Which system of equations represents the relationship between the number of gloves, g, and the number of bats, b, sold on this day?

• A.
• B.
• C.
• D.

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

B

The question asks for a system of equations that represents a specific situation. Translate the question in bite-sized pieces and eliminate after each piece. One piece of information says the store sold 52 pieces of softball equipment, so one of the equations must equal 52. Eliminate (A) and (D), as neither choice shows an equation equaling 52. Compare the remaining answer choices. The difference between (B) and (C) is the right side of the second equation. Since the question states that gloves (g) cost $20 and bats (b) cost $50, one of the equations shows 50b and 20g being added together to equal the total money made by the store. Eliminate (C), as it does not show 50b + 20g as equal to the total of 1,700. The correct answer is (B).