Question

The total cost of a sweater and a pair of pants was $89.47. If the price of the sweater was $8.53 less than the pair of pants, what was the price of the sweater? Express your answer as a simplified fraction or a decimal rounded to two places.

Answer 1

Answer:

Let S = price of sweater

Let P = price of pants

S + P = 89.47 because that was the total spent

S = P - 8.53   because the sweater is 8.53 less than pants

Substitute P-8.53 in place of S in the

1st equation and solve for P

P - 8.53 + P = 89.47

2P - 8.53 = 89.47     add 8.53 to both sides

2P = 89.47 + 8.53

2P = 98.00  divide both sides by 2

P = 98.00/2

P = $49.00

S = P - 8.53

S = 49.00-8.53

S = $40.47

A sweater costs $40.47 and the pants cost $49.00