16Hit1600
AlgebraEasySolve a system by substitution in context

Algebra practice question

A mountain rescue team prepares a total of 24 supply kits, consisting of rope kits and medical kits. The number of medical kits is twice the number of rope kits.

How many medical kits does the team prepare?

  1. A. 8
  2. B. 12
  3. C. 16Correct
  4. D. 48

Answer: C. 16

Let r be rope kits and m be medical kits: r + m = 24 and m = 2r. Substituting gives r + 2r = 24, so 3r = 24 and r = 8; then m = 2(8) = 16. Choice A is the number of rope kits, the other variable. Choice B comes from splitting the 24 kits evenly, ignoring the 'twice as many' condition. Choice D comes from doubling the total 24 instead of doubling the number of rope kits.

Why the other answers are wrong

A. 8
That's r, the number of rope kits. Medical kits are twice that: 2(8) = 16.
B. 12
You split the 24 kits evenly, but there are twice as many medical kits as rope kits, so the split is 8 and 16.
D. 48
You doubled the total instead of the number of rope kits — and the answer can't exceed the 24 kits prepared.

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