price of one pretzel

Question

At a concession stand, one person purchased 3 drinks and 3 soft pretzels for $9.00.  Another person purchased 4 drinks and 2 soft pretzels for $8.50, what was the price of 1 soft pretzel?

Answer 1

Simultaneous equations.

Let d = drinks

Let p = pretzels

 

3d + 3p = 9

3d + 2p = 8.5

 

Subtract 2nd equation from 1st to eliminate

the variable d and solve for p

 

p = 0.5

 

3d + 2(.5) = 8.5

3d + 1 = 8.5

3d = 7.5

d = 2.5

 

pretzels cost $.50 and

drinks cost $2.50