Question

Ten bagels and four muffins cost $13. Five bagels and eight muffins cost $14. How much does a bagel cost? How much does a muffin cost?

Answer 1

We are going to define two equations where b means bagels and m will be muffins, First equation: 10*b + 4*m = 13 Second equation: 5*b + 8*m = 14 From the second equation, we can isolate b: b = (14 - 8*m)/5 In the second equation 10*(14 - 8*m)/5 + 4*m = 13 2*(14 - 8*m) + 4*m = 13 28 - 16*m + 4*m = 13 28 -13 = 16*m - 4*m 15 = 12*m m = 15/12 = 1.25 Then b = (14 - 8*m)/5 = (14 - 8*1.25)/5 = 4/5 = 0.8 So one bagel costs $0.8 and one muffin $1.25