Over the past weekend, Antioch High School (AHS) competed in a swim meet where 20 athletes competed for individual events to earn a combined team total of 46 points. A first-place finish earns 5 points, a second-place finish earns 3 points, and a third-place finish earns 1 point. AHS had a strong third-place showing, with as many third-place finishers as first- and second-place finishers combined. How many athletes finished in the first place?

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Chapter6: Systems Of Linear Equations And Inequalities
Section6.1: Graphing Systems Of Equations
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Over the past weekend, Antioch High School (AHS) competed in a swim meet where 20 athletes competed for individual events to earn a combined team total of 46 points. A first-place finish earns 5 points, a second-place finish earns 3 points, and a third-place finish earns 1 point. AHS had a strong third-place showing, with as many third-place finishers as first- and second-place finishers combined.

How many athletes finished in the first place?

Expert Solution
Step 1

Given that,

Antioch High School (AHS) competed in a swim meet where 20 athletes competed for individual events to earn a combined team total of 46 points.

Thus total points are 46.

A first-place finish earns 5 points, a second-place finish earns 3 points, and a third-place finish earns 1 point. AHS had a strong third-place showing, with as many third-place finishers as first- and second-place finishers combined.

 

Step 2

Let the number of first-place finishers is x and the number of second-place finishers is y, the number of third-place finishers is z.

The total number of athletes is 20.

Hence x + y +z = 20

A first-place finish earns 5 points, a second-place finish earns 3 points, and a third-place finish earns 1 point.

Total points are  46

Thus.  5x + 3 y +z = 46

AHS had a strong third-place showing, with as many third-place finishers as first- and second-place finishers combined.

Thus, z = x+y

 

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