<h2>Plastic Beads = $0.50</h2><h2>Metal Beads = $0.75</h2><h2 />
p = Plastic Beads
m = Metal Beads
Equations:
7p + 5m = 7.25
9p + 3m = 6.75
Make one pair of coefficients the same:
3 * (7p + 5m = 7.25) = 21p + 15m = 21.75
5 * (9p + 3m = 6.75) = 45p + 15m = 33.75
Remove that coefficient;
(45p + 15m) - (21p + 15m) = 33.75 - 21.75
(45p - 21p ) + ( 15m - 15m) = 33.75 - 21.75
24p = 12
24p / 24 = 12 / 24
<h3><u>p = 0.5</u></h3><h3 />
Substitute the result into one of the original equations.
(7 * 0.5) + 5m = 7.25
Rearrange to find the missing value:
7.25 - (7 * 0.5) = 5m
7.25 - 3.5 = 3.75
5m = 3.75
5m / 5 = 3.75 / 5
<h3><u>m = 0.75</u></h3>