Question

Last season two running backs on the Steelers football team rushed a combined total of 1550 yards. one rushed 4 times as many yards as the other. how many yards were rushed by each play? please show work.

Answer 1

You can say that the first player rushed for (x) yards.  That means that the second player rushed for (14x) yards.  If you add those together you would get 1550 yards
Equation                    next step
x + 14x = 1550           simplify/combine like terms
15x = 1550                 divide both side by 15
player #1  x = 103.3 (repeating) yards
player #2  14x = 14(103.3333) = 1446.66 yards
In order to get 1550, you'd have to round

Answer 2

Answer: Y=1240
Explanation: let X the number of yards rushed y one of them.
Y=the number of yards rushed by the others.
Set up an equation;
X+y=1550
Y=4x x+4x=1550
5x=1550
X=310
310+y=1550

Subtract 310 from both sides and you will get 1240