ok, so first you want to create your equations. let s=shirts, and p=pants. 4s+3p=159, and 3s+2p=113. next you want to get one variable in each equation to be the same. I multiplied the first by 2 and the second by 3 to make the ps the same. now we subtract our equations. (9s+6p=339) - (8s+6p=318) this gives you s=21. Now we put that in to solve for p, it doesnt matter which of the 4 equations. 4(8)+3p=159 = 3p=127 = p=42 1/3. now we just multiply them to find the cost of 5 of each. which is the answer above.
