a sporting goods store sells sets of golf clubs with steel shafts for $359. sets of golf clubs with graphite shafts cost $559. last month the store sold 14 sets of golf clubs for $6,826. how many sets of each type of golf club were sold? set up and solve a system of equations to find the answer.

OK, here we go
We know: x + y = 14
We know: 359x + 559y = 6826
Solve for y ... (x = 14-y)

359 x (14-y) + 559y = 6826
359 x 14 - 359 x y + 559y = 6826
5026 - 359 x y + 559y = 6826
5026 - 359y + 559y = 6826
5026 + 200 y = 6826
200y = 6826 - 5026
200y = 6826 - 5026
200y = 1800
y = 1800 / 200
y = 9

359x + 559 (9) = 6826
359x  + 5031  = 6826
359x = 6826 - 5031
359x = 1795
x = 5

...And, I'll bet you've been thinking that you'll never need to know or use algebra in you life outside school. Am I right?