Question

On the last day of the school book fair, all pencils were one set price and all books were a different set price. Sammy bought 2 pencils and 6 books for $14. Belle bought 4 pencils and 1 book for $8. What was the set price for a pencil? What was the set price for a book?

Answer 1

• Book -$20/11 and pencil - $17/11

Explanation:

Let the set price of pencil be p and the set price of book be b

Then we have equations:

• 2p + 6b = 14
• 4p + 1b = 8

Simplify the first equation:

• p + 3b = 7

And substitute p in the second equation: p = 7 - 3b

• 4(7 - 3b) + b = 8
• 28 - 12b + b = 8
• 11b = 20
• b = 20/11

And finding value of p:

• p = 7 - 3(20/11) = 1/11(77 - 60) = 17/11