Question

An investor bought 3 shares of stock a and 2 shares of stock b for a total of $41. Stock a costs $2.00 more per share than stock b. What is the cost of a share of stock a in dollars?

Answer 1

well you know how much you spent

3a + 2b = 41

and you also know that when comparing prices

a = b + 2

so you can substitute the 2nd equation into the 1st equation and eliminate a

3(b + 2) + 2b = 41

or

3b + 6 + 2b = 41

which simplifies to

5b + 6 = 41

all you need to do is solve for b.

when you have b substitute it into

a = b + 2

to find a.


hope this helps.