Towel Problem

[Jim Brier]

A discount store bought a quantity of towels for $250. They sold all but 15 at a profit of $3.50 per towel. With what he received, the manager was able to buy 4 more than twice the number of towels as he originally purchased. What is the cost per towel?

[polarbear]

The cost per towel (to the store) is $2.50.

let n = number of towels purchased originally
let p = price of towels purchased

np = 250
(n-15)(p+3.5) = (2n+4)p

Solve this system of equations, you should get p = 2.5.

[Jim Brier]

Good work polarbear. The key is recognizing that what he received on the towels he sold was both his profit and his cost (p + 3.5). Most of the students in my study group tried to solve the equations using 3.5(n-15) as the amount received.