jmc

Question

In a recent basketball game, Shenille attempted only three-point shots and two-point shots. She was successful on 20% of her three-point shots and 30% of her two-point shots. Shenille attempted 30 shots. How many points did she score?

Accepted Answer

Let the number of attempted three-point shots made be

x

and the number of attempted two-point shots be

y

. We know that

x + y = 30

. We need to evaluate

(0.2 \cdot 3) x + (0.3 \cdot 2) y

, as we know that the three-point shots are worth 3 points and that she made

20%

of them and that the two-point shots are worth 2 and that she made

30%

of them.

Simplifying, we see that this is equal to

0.6 x + 0.6 y = 0.6 (x + y)

. Plugging in

x + y = 30

, we get

0.6 (30) = 18

.