Entertainment Costs

(1) 600

Explanation

Analyze

• There were 5 players in the band (Given)
• Each player made $120 (Given)
• What fee did the band charge? (Find)

Form

We can let f = the band's fee.  To form an equation, we look for a key word or phrase.  In this case, we find it in the analysis of the problem.  If each player earned the same amount ($120), the band's fee must have been divided into 5 equal parts

Key phrase: divide into 5 equal parts

Translation: divide

• (The band's fee) divide by (the number of players in the band) is (each person's share)
• \(\frac{f}{5}\) = 120

Solve

• We need to isolate f on the left side
  • \(\frac{f}{5}\) = 120
• To isolate f, multiply both sides by 5 to undo the division by 5
  • \(5 \cdot \frac{f}{5} = 5 \cdot 120\)
• Do the multiplication
  • f = 600

State

The band's fee was $600

Check

If the band's fee was $600, and we divide it into 4 equal parts, we should get the amount that each player earned.

\(\frac{600}{5} = 120\)

The result, $600, checks