Question

Maureen spent sh 207 to buy 7 exercise books and 4 pens while Sharon spent sh 165 to buy 5 exercise books and 5 pens of same type.Find the cost of each item

Answer 1

Answer:

  book 25; pen 8

Step-by-step explanation:

If we let b and p represent the cost of a book and a pen, respectively, then the two purchases can be written as ...

  7b +4p = 207

  5b +5p = 165

Multiply the second equation by 4/5 and subtract the result from the first equation:

  (7b +4p) -4/5(5b +5p) = (207) -4/5(165)

  3b = 75 . . . . simplify

  b = 25 . . . . . divide by 3

Dividing the second equation by 5 gives ...

  b + p = 33

Solving for p, we have ...

  p = 33 -b = 33 -25 = 8

The cost of an exercise book is 25; the cost of a pen is 8.