1963 TMTA High School Algebra I Contest Problem 34

Problem

An acre of wheat yielded $2000$ pounds more of straw than of grain. The weight of the grain was $3/10$ of the total weight of grain and straw. How many $60$ pound bushels of grain were produced?

$\text{(A)} \quad 1500 \quad \text{(B)} \quad 1200 \quad \text{(C)} \quad 50 \quad \text{(D)} \quad 25 \quad \text{(E) NOTA}$

Solution

Suppose there were $x$ pounds of straw and $y$ pounds of grain. We can write the system of equations: \[x = y + 2000\] \[y = \frac{3}{10}(x+y)\] Solving, we get $(x, y)=(3500, 1500)$ and there are $\frac{1500}{60}=\boxed{\text{(D)} \quad 25}$ bushels of grain.

See Also

1963 TMTA High School Mathematics Contests (Problems)
Preceded by
Problem 33
TMTA High School Mathematics Contest Past Problems/Solutions Followed by
Problem 35