Three lemonade and two bag of pretzels cost $5.4. Two lemonades and three bags of pretzels cost $5.1.

Question

What is the difference between the price of a bag of pretzels and the price of a lemonade?

Answer 1

3L + 2p = $5.40

2L + 3p = $5.10

Hopefully you already realize that the lemonade is slightly more expensive than pretzels.

If you are really doing the SAT test, you should plug in answers from the answer choices that are consistent with lemonade being slightly more expensive. Plugging in answer choices is faster than doing system of equations, and speed is of the essence on the SAT.

But since we are here, we can use system of equations to solve this. :)

If you multiply the first equation by -2 and the second by 3, you get

-6L - 4p = - 10.8

6L + 9p = 15.30

Adding these equations cancels out the L, and leaves you to solve 5p = 4.50.

p = $0.90. Plug this price of pretzels back into the first equation to find that lemonade costs

3L + (2*0.9) = 5.40

L = $1.20.

Notice how this answer is consistent with L being slightly more expensive than pretzels. Lemonade is $0.30 cents more expensive than pretzels.

Again, try to use answer choices given to you if this is multiple choice on SAT. Systems of equations is usually too time consuming for this test.

Hope this helps! :)