Question

The math team sold 42 hamburger meals and 15 ribs at the pep rally for a total of $243. At the game that night, they sold 36 hamburger meals and 30 ribs meals for a total of $294. What is the cost of 1 rib meal?

Answer 1

Let the cost of one hamburger = h
Also, let the cost of one rib = r

So you can form one equation from the first sentence.

42h + 15r = 243 [Because we are multiplying their number by the cost of one of the entities to get the total cost of the entire meal]

You can get the second equation:

36h + 30r = 294

Solve the 2 equations you have and then obtain the price of 1 rib meal, essentially, the value of 'r'.

Getting this? :)

Answer 2

How am I supposed to solve those equations..

Answer 3

There are many methods.

Try substitution.

That is, find the value of h (or r) in terms of the other variable from one equation.
Use that value of h (or r) in the second equation to get the numerical value of h (or r).

Let's say we had

a + b = 4
a - b = 2

Use the first equation to get 'a'. [a + b = 4 implies that, a = 4 - b]
Now use this, a value (which is in terms of the other variable) and substitute this in the second equation:

(4 - b) - b = 2
4 - 2b = 2
2b = 2
b = 1

a = 4-b = 4-1 = 3

So here a = 3, b = 1.

Using this example try finding the value of h and r in your question.

Can you do that? :)