Answer:
- Walnuts cost $1.75, chocolate chips cost $2.75
Step-by-step explanation:
<h3>Let the costs be:</h3>
- Walnuts - x
- Chocolate chips - y
<h3>Set equations as per question</h3>
For 7 pounds of walnuts and 9 pounds of chocolate chips, the total cost is $37:
For 5 pounds of walnuts and 3 pounds of chocolate chips, the total cost is $17:
<h3>Solve the system by elimination</h3>
Multiply the second equation by 3 and subtract the first equation, solve for x:
- 3(5x + 3y) - (7x + 9y) = 3(17) - 37
- 15x + 9y - 7x - 9y = 51 - 37
- 8x = 14
- x = 14/8
- x = 1.75
Find the value of y:
- 7*1.75 + 9y = 37
- 12.25 + 9y = 37
- 9y = 37 - 12.25
- 9y = 24.75
- y = 24.75/9
- y = 2.75
