A pen is $1 cheaper than a stapler. Their total price is $5.20. Find the price of the pen.

Answer 1

P=Pen

s= stapler

Pen and stapler added together equal $5.20 --> P+S= $5.20

Pen is $1 cheaper than stapler --> the stapler is equal to the pen plus a dollar S= P + $1

Now plug S= P + 1 into P+S equation--> P+ (P+1)= 5.20

2P +1= 5.20

-1 -1. (subtract one from both sides)

2P=4.20

divide by 2 and get P= 2.10

S= P + 1= 2.10 + 1= 3.10

Stapler = 3.10 and Pen= 2.10

Answer 2

x= pen

y = stapler

we know that the pen is $1 cheaper than the stapler so..

the pen equals the stapler minus 1

x=y-1

we also know that together they equal $5.20

x+y = 5.20

we can replace the x in this equation with the equation we found above.

Now we have

y-1+y=5.20

Solve for y

Combine like terms 2y-1=5.20

add one to both sides 2y=6.20

divide by 2 y=3.10

the stapler cost $3.10, the pen is one dollar less than the stapler so the pen is $2.10