Question

Two apples and three pears cost $3.45. Three apples and five pears cost $5.55. Find the cost of each type of fruit.

Answer 1

well you have the equation
2a + 3p = 3.45
3a + 5p = 5.55
so if you have 1 apple and 1 pear how much would you have to pay??

Answer 2

There are your equations. What you want to do is find a way to eliminate a variable.

2a + 3p = 3.45
3 * (2a + 3p) = 3 * 3.45
6a + 9p = 10.35

3a + 5p = 5.55
2 * (3a + 5p) = 2 * 5.55
6a + 10p = 11.10

Answer 3

so now because we have 6a in both equations we must now find out the answer.
(6a + 10p) - (6a + 9p) = 11.10 - 10.35
6a - 6a + 10p - 9p = 0.75
p = 0.75

So, 1 pear costs $0.75

2a + 3p = 3.45
2a + 3 * 0.75 = 3.45
2a + 2.25 = 3.45
2a = 1.2
a = 0.6

1 apple costs $0.60

Answer 4

Thank you