Question

Nine pounds of sweet potatoes cost the same as 6 pounds of apples. One pound of sweet potatoes costs twice as much as a pound of onions, while a pound of apples costs 24 cents more than a pound of onions. Find the cost of one pound of each.

Answer 1

Let S = price per pound of sweet potatoes
A = price per pound of apples
N = price per pound of onions

1. "Nine pounds of sweet potatoes cost the same as 6 pounds of apples."
9S = 6A
2. "One pound of sweet potatoes costs twice as much as a pound of onions,"
S = 2N
3. "while a pound of apples costs 24 cents more than a pound of onions."
A = N + 0.24

6A - 9S = 0
2N - S = 0
A - N = 0.24

Solve the system of equations.