You paid $8.50 more for the rulers than the erasers. You paid $4.75 more for the erasers than for the chalk. If the bill is $72.00, what did each item cost?

Question

As a school aid you bought chalk, erasers,and rulers for the class.....

Answer 1

Let's call the erasers e. 

 

The formula for the erasers -  e

The formula for the rulers - e + 8.50

The formula for the chalk - e - 4.75

 

e + e +8.50 + e - 4.75 = 72.00

 

At this point you must solve for e.

 

3e +3.75 = 72.00

 

3e = 68.25

 

e = 22.75

 

erasers = $22.75

 

rulers = $22.75 + 8.50 = 31.25

 

chalk = $22.75 - 4.75 = $18.00

 

The check would be:

$22.75 + $31.25 + $18.00 = $72.00

 

I hope this helped and gave you step by step explanation.  Laurie G.