Without solving, choose the correct solution by deciding which choice satisfies the given conditions.
-Rozlyn has two containers of water for a camping trip. One container holds 2 times as much as the other. The total amount of water is 18 gallons. How much water is in each container?
A)5 gallons; 13 gallons
B)6.5 gallons; 11.5 gallons
C)6 gallons; 12 gallons
D)18 gallons; 6 gallons

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Let x be the amount of water in the smaller container. Then the larger container holds 2x gallons of water. The total amount of water is x + 2x = 3x, which we know is equal to 18 (since the total amount of water is given to be 18 gallons). Solving for x gives x = 6, so the smaller container holds 6 gallons and the larger container holds 2x = 2(6) = 12 gallons. Therefore, the correct solution is (6 gallons, 12 gallons), which is choice C. This choice has two values that differ by a factor of 2 (6 and 12) and their sum is 18, which satisfies the given conditions.

Without Solving, Choose the Correct Solution by Deciding Which Choice