Question

Erin went shopping for a pair of sweatpants, sweatshirt, and a tee shirt. The sweat pants cost $5.50 less than twice the tee shirt. The sweat shirt cost $8 more than the tee shirt. If Erin spent $76.50, how much did each item cost?

Answer 1

To find the cost of each item, you will create an equation in terms of the t-shirt.

Each item is related to the price of the t-shirt.

SWEATPANTS + SWEATSHIRT + TEE SHIRT = TOTAL COST
(2t - 5.50)         + (t + 8)              +  t              =  $76.50
4t + 2.50 = 76.50
     - 2.50    -2.50
4t = 74
4      4
t = $18.50

The tee shirt is $18.50.

The sweatpants are 2 x $18.50 - 5.5 = $31.50

The sweatshirt is $18.50 + 8 = $26.50