Question

If you could please help, what is the missing answer?

Thank you to anyone who helps out!

Answer 1

48

Explanation:

let s be the snowman, g be the girl, and t be the christmas tree

2s+g=24

2t+2ts=132

3t+2g=26

subtract 2 times the first equation from the third one to get

3t-4s=-22

from the second equation we can deduce

2t(1+s)=132

t(1+s)=66

t=66/(1+s)

Substitute:

3(66)/(1+s)-4s=-22

3(66)/(1+s)=4s-22

3(66)=(4s-22)(1+s)

3(66)=-18s+4s^2-22

4s^2-18s-220=0

using the quadratic formula, we get s = 10, s = -5.5.

2(10)+g=24

g=4

2t(1+10)=132

2t=12

t=6

So 2s+t*g= 20+6*4=48

you would get a different solution for the negative s, but since snowmen cannot be negative, 48 is the answe.r