There must be if I solved it. :-) I said it can't be 10 +1 because the dearer item would only be £9 more expensive then. By trial and error I reached the answer.
Yes as sandyRoe said this was fairly easy by trial and errorThat kind of problem can be worked out using algebra but it's more complicated!!!esp if you haven't done it at school..
I couldn't think of the formula earlier, but
total cost £11 = £10 + x+y. where x is the cost of the tea strainer and y the part of the price of the teapot which goes to make it the tenner more in price.
subtract £10 from each side of the equation £1= x +y
x= 50p, y=50p
add 50p to the £10=£10.50, the strainer is 50p.
One item is a tenner more than the other so the calculations sound.
Gosh Sandy, that's complicated. I just took £10 from £11 and divided the difference of £1 by 2 = .50p. So one was worth £10 + .50p, the other .50p. Simple.
I nearly agree with you , Sandy.
If a tea strainer costs £x, a tea pot must cost £x+10
So
The equation is
x + (x+10) =11
2x +10=11
2x=1
x=0.5
So a tea strainer costs 0.5 of a pound =50p
and a tea pot costs £10.50
Well done , furrypusscat.Who needs algebra? This reminds me of the kind of problems children had to solve in the qualifying class for the 11+ exams!Sure most of you are too young to remember.It amazes me when I think of the really difficult problems-trains going into tunnels at different speeds.... if it takes 5 men two days to dig a ditch etc.etc Good job the teachers had the answer books!!Anyone remember?
It was a question in the 11+ about water flowing into a bath and draining out that scuppered us.
We came from a poor area and nobody knew what a bath was.