An ice cream shop had 650 pints of chocolate loe cream and 170 pints of vanilla ice cream. A customer bought the same number of pints of each flavor for a company party. The lce cream shop now has 5 times as many pints of chocolate as vanilla ice cream. How many pints did the customer buy?

Let \( x \) be the number of pints the customer bought of each flavor. Initially, the shop had 650 pints of chocolate and 170 pints of vanilla. After the purchase, the amounts left will be \( 650 - x \) for chocolate and \( 170 - x \) for vanilla. The problem states that now the amount of chocolate ice cream is 5 times that of vanilla, which gives us the equation: \[ 650 - x = 5(170 - x) \] Expanding the equation: \[ 650 - x = 850 - 5x \] Adding \( 5x \) to both sides: \[ 650 + 4x = 850 \] Subtracting 650 from both sides: \[ 4x = 200 \] Dividing by 4: \[ x = 50 \] Thus, the customer bought 50 pints of each flavor! Now, isn't it fascinating how simple algebra can solve a problem that involves something as delightful as ice cream? Plus, you might even use these skills for planning your next party’s dessert table! Let’s also take a moment to appreciate the history of ice cream. Dating back to ancient China, where frozen milk and rice were combined, ice cream has certainly evolved. By the 18th century, it gained popularity across Europe and the Americas, leading to today’s endless flavors and variations!