One week Beth bought 2 apples and 6 pears for $5. The next week she bought 3 apples and 1 pear and paid 3.50. Find the cost of 1 apple and the cost of 1 pear.

Answer 1

Let a = cost of an apple and p = cost of a pear.

We can make two equations from the information we are given:

2a + 6p = 5

3a + 1p = 3.5

Now we have a system of equations we can solve. I would solve the 2nd equation for p and use the substitution method to get our answers

p = 3.5 - 3a

Now we substitute 3.5 - 3a in for p in the 1st equation

2a + 6(3.5 - 3a) = 5

Now we solve for a.

2a + 21 - 18a = 5

-16a = -16

a = 1

Now we substitute 1 for a in p = 3.5 - 3a to find p.

p = 3.5 -3(1)

p = .5

So apples cost $1 and pears cost 50 cents