Answer:
The cost of one box of oranges = $3.3
Step-by-step explanation:
Let x be cost of one box of oranges and y be the cost of one box of grapefruit.
We have been given that Mrs. Whitten purchased 3 boxes of oranges and 2 boxes of grapefruit from a student for a total of $22.50. We can represent this information as:
Mr. Rutig purchased 1 box of oranges and four boxes of grapefruit, spending a total of $28.50. We can represent this information as:
![x+4y=28.50...(2)](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=x%2B4y%3D28.50...%282%29)
We will solve our system of linear equations using substitution method.
From equation (1) we will get,
![y=\frac{22.50-3x}{2}](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=y%3D%5Cfrac%7B22.50-3x%7D%7B2%7D)
Substituting y's value in equation (2) we will get,
![x+4*(\frac{22.50-3x}{2})=28.50](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=x%2B4%2A%28%5Cfrac%7B22.50-3x%7D%7B2%7D%29%3D28.50)
![x+2*(22.50-3x)=28.50](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=x%2B2%2A%2822.50-3x%29%3D28.50)
Upon distributing 2 we will get,
![x+45-6x=28.50](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=x%2B45-6x%3D28.50)
![x-6x=28.50-45](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=x-6x%3D28.50-45)
![-5x=-16.5](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=-5x%3D-16.5)
![x=\frac{-16.5}{-5}](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=x%3D%5Cfrac%7B-16.5%7D%7B-5%7D)
![x=3.3](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=x%3D3.3)
Therefore, the cost of one box of oranges is $3.3.