Question

Suppose you got 8 mangoes and 3 apples for $18
and 5 apples and 3mangoes for $14.50 how much does each apple cost and how much does each mango cost?

Answer 1

setting mangoes = m and apples = a, you have two equations

8m + 3a = 18
5a + 3m = 14.5

then, from the first equation: a = (18-8m)/3 = 6 - (8/3)m
Plug it in the second equation:
5(6 - 8m/3) + 3m = 14.5
30 - 40m/3 + 3m = 14.5
31m/3 = 15.5
m = 1.5

plug this back into the original equation
8(1.5) + 3a = 18
a = 2

There you go :)