Step-by-step explanation:
step 1. (1) 5a +8c +4p = 57
(2) 9a +8c + 7p = 89
(3) 8a + 4c + 5p = 68.
step 2. this is a 3 variable system. solve the system.
step 3. eliminate c from (1) and (2) and also from (2) and (3). so you now have 4a + 3p = 32 and 7a + 3p = 47. now you have a two variable system
step 4. eliminate p by subtracting: 3a = 15 so a = 5.
step 5. if a = 5 then p = 4 ( plug into step 3)
step 6. if a = 5, p = 4, then c = 2 (plug into step 1).
step 7. apples = 5, pears = 4, cherries = 2.
