Question

Maggie buys 5 apples and 4 oranges for $10 and Lynn buys 5 apples and 5 oranges for $11. What is the price for an apple and what is the price for an orange?

Answer 1

Make 2 eqn, let a be apples and o be oranges:

1. 5a + 4o = 10
2. 5a + 5o = 11

set up an elimination:
1. minus 2.
5a + 4o = 10
- 5a + 5o = 11
____________
o = 1

sub “o” into one of the eqn

5a + 5(1) = 11
5a = 11-5
5a = 6
a = 6/5
a = 1.2

therefore, an orange costs $1.00 and an apple costs $1.20