Question

Jasmine bought 1.3 pounds of ham and 0.8 pounds of cheese from the deli and paid $11.28. She went back the following week and bought 1.5 pounds of ham and 1.2 pounds of cheese and paid $14.76. If the prices remained the same, find the price per pound of ham and cheese using the elimination method

Answer 1

Let

x be the price for a pound of ham
y the price for a pound of cheese

1.3x +0.8y = 11.28  ....(1)
1.5x +1.2y = 14.76  ....(2)

Lets multiply (1) by -1.2
Lets multiply (2) by 0.8

-1.56x -0.96y = -13.536 .....(3)
 1.2x + 0.96y = 11.808 .....(4)


If we add (3) and (4)

-0.36x = -1.728 ............> x = 4.8

We substitute in (1)

1.3(4.8) +0.8y = 11.28

y = 6.3

Price per pound of ham = x = 4.8
Price per pound of cheese = y = 6.3