Plier Tool

Can anyone set up a system of equations from this word problem?

A tool company manufactures pliers, scissors, and wrenches. In 10 minutes the company uses 20 units of steel, 30 units of aluminum, and 12 units of rubber (for the grips). Each pair of pliers contains 2 units of steel, 4 units of aluminum, and 2 units of rubber. Each pair of scissors contains 1 unit of steel, 3 units of aluminum, and 1 unit of rubber. Each wrench contains 2 units of steel, 1 unit of aluminum, and no rubber. How many pliers, scissors, and wrenches are manufactured in 10 minutes at the tool company?

Let the number of pliers, scissors and wrenches manufactured in 10 minutes be p, s, and w respectively. Since each pair of pliers requires 2, 4 and 2 units of steel, aluminum and rubber respectively, to produce p pairs requires
2p, 4p and 2p units of steel, aluminum and rubber respectively. Similarly, to produce s pairs of scissors requires
s, 3s and s units of steel, aluminum and rubber respectively, whilst to produce w wrenches requires
2w, w and 0 units of steel, aluminum and rubber respectively.
Adding the units of steel, aluminum and rubber required and comparing to the number used then gives the following three equations
2p + s + 2w = 20 (steel)
4p + 3s + w = 30 (aluminum)
2p + s + 0 = 12 (rubber)

I'll leave you to solve this system of 3 equations for the 3 unknowns p, s and w!

Make It Mine Magazine - Setting Grommets Using a Plier Tool

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