(A)Define the variables (B)Write down 2 simultaneous equations(C)solve the equations

Question

One day Phil bought 5 loaves of bread and 3 muffins for a total of £8. A few days later, at the same supermarket, he bought 2 loaves of bread and 6 muffins for a total of £5.60. What is the price of a single loaf of bread and a single muffin?

Answer 1

Hi Keoree,

In this type of example, you need to write your equations, and then manipulate them to solve:

Let B = price/loaf of bread and M = price/muffin -- both in pounds

You know that 5B + 3M = 8 pounds and 2B + 6M = 5.60 pounds

If you multiply the first equation by 2, that equation becomes 10B + 6M = 16 which lets you subtract the second equation to get 8B = 10.40 or B = 1.30 pounds. Now you can solve for M