A carpenter purchased 120 ft. of fir and 75 ft. of redwood for a total cost of $133.50. A 2nd purchase, at the same prices, included 60 ft. of fir and 100 ft. of redwood for a total cost of $98.

Question

Find the cost per foot of redwood and fir.

Answer 1

Let x = price of fir and y = price of redwood

120x+75y= 133.50

60x+100y=98

Subtract twice equation 2 from equation 1.

-125y=-62.5 --> y = .5

Substitute .5 into equation 2 for y

60x+50 = 98 -->x = ,80

Fir is $0.80 per foot

Redwood is $0.50 per foot