Question

Mrs. Aiken bought some peaches at $1.49 per pound and some blueberries at $1.99 per pound to use in fruit salad she is making for an exciting math party at her house. She paid $20.38 for a total of 12 pounds of the two kinds of fruit. How many pounds of peaches did she buy?

Answer 1

P= peaches B=Blueberries
$1.49 p + $1.99 b = $20.38
p + b = 12 lbs.
Take p + b = 12 subtract p from both sides. b= 12-p
Now substitute b = 12 -p for b in $1.49 p + $1.99 b = $20.38
Looks like this $1.49 p + $1.99 ( 12-p ) = $20.38
Distribute $1.99 * 12 = 23.88
Distribute $1.99 * p = $1.99p
$1.49 p + $23.88 - $1.99p =$20.38
Combine $1.49 p - $1.99p = -0.50
-$0.50p + $23.88 = $20.38
Subtract $23.88 on both sides.
-$0.50p = -$3.50
Divide both sides by -$0.50
peaches= 7 lbs