Question

A contractor buys 9.2 square feet of sheet metal. She used 4.1 square feet so far and has $204 worth of sheet metal remaining. Write and solve an equation to find out how much sheet metal costs per square feet Type your equation out here: Type your answer here: dollars per square foot.

Answer 1

9.2x - 4.1x = 204

1 square foot = $40

Explanation:

9.2x - 4.1x = 204

5.1x = 204

x = 204/5.1

x = $40

Answer 2

Given that total amount of metal in the beginning = 8.2 square feet

Given that used amount of metal = 2.1 square feet

Then remaining amount of metal = (8.2-2.1) = 6.1 square feet

Now it says that "$183 worth of sheet metal remaining".

That means cost of 6.1 square feet is $183.

Let cost of 1 square feet of the metal = x

Then cost of 6.1 square feet of the metal = 6.1x

Both expressions 6.1x and $183 represent the cost of the remaining metal so the required equation will be:

6.1x=183

Now we can solve it to find the solution

x=183/6.1

x=30

So the cost per square feet of the metal = $30

Answer : Hence final answer is $30 per square feet.