Elizabeth bought 6 tomato plants and a new shovel.

Question

She spent $35.91 for everything, and the shovel costs 4.5 times as much as a tomato plant. What is the cost of each plant and shovel?

Answer 1

Let P = cost of each plant

Let S = cost of shovel 

 

Shovel cost 4.5 times as much as plant  ==>  S = 4.5*P

 

Spent $35.91 for 6 plants and shovel  ==>  6*P + S = 35.91 

 

Substitute the value for S from the 1st equation into the 2nd equation 

 

6*P + 4.5*P = 35.91

10.5*P = 35.91

P = 3.42

 

So S = 4.5*3.42 = 15.39 

 

Each plant cost $3.42 and the shovel cost $15.39 

 

Check:  15.39/3.42 = 4.5 times as much for shovel as plant

            6*3.42 + 15.39 = 20.52 + 15.39 = $ 35.91