How much does each item sell for?

Question

Christine has a home-based business making corsages and boutonnieres for school dances. Last year, she sold 22 corsages and 16 boutonnieres, which brought in a total of $798. This year, she sold 31 corsages and 11 boutonnieres, for a total of $882. How much does each item sell for?

Answer 1

Well this is a numerical mess!!!!

22C + 16B = 798

31C + 11B = 882

It is absolutely unreasonable to expect a long hand solution of this set.

A computer will invert the necessary matrix instantaneously.

Even the determinant solution is messy and should be done on some sort of calculator.

The denominator for the determinant is 22*11-16*31

The numerator for the C value is 798*11-16*882

The numerator for the B value is 22*882-798*31

If you divide the C numerator by the denominator you will get the value for C and likewise for B.

Good luck!