Cost of items

Question

 At a bargain store, Tanya bought three items that each cost the same amount. Tony bought four items that each cost the same amount, but each was $2.25 less then the items that Tanya bought. Both Tanya and Tony paid the same amount of money. What was the individual cost of each person's items? 

Answer 1

Hello Danielle,

 

When solving word problems, follow these steps:

 

1) Choose variables for your unknowns.

We need to find the cost of each person's items, so let's just go with x = the individual cost of Tanya's items, and y = the individual cost of Tony's items.

 

2) Translate the word problem into mathematical statements.

"Tanya bought three items." Tanya spent 3x

"Tony bought four items." Tony spent 4y

"Tanya and Tony paid the same amount of money." 3x = 4y

"Tony's items cost $2.25 less than Tanya's items." y = x - 2.25

 

3) Solve the system of equations.

Use any methods you've learned in class to solve this system of two equations with two unknowns.

 

Hope this has helped!