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A store is having a sale on walnuts and chocolate chips. For 3 pounds of walnuts and 2 pounds of chocolate chips, the total cost is $13. For 8 pounds of walnuts and 4 pounds of chocolate chips, the total cost is $33. Find the cost for each pound of walnuts and each pound of chocolate chips .

User Mike U
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

By setting up and solving a system of linear equations, we find that walnuts cost $3.50 per pound and chocolate chips cost $1.25 per pound.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question involves using a system of two linear equations to find the cost per pound of walnuts and chocolate chips. We can define w to be the cost of one pound of walnuts and c to be the cost of one pound of chocolate chips. From the information given, we can set up the following two equations:

3w + 2c = 13

8w + 4c = 33

To solve these equations, we can use either substitution or elimination. Let's use elimination:

Multiply the first equation by 2 to align the coefficients of c. This gives us: 6w + 4c = 26.

Now, subtract the newly obtained equation from the second one: (8w + 4c) - (6w + 4c) = 33 - 26, which simplifies to 2w = 7.

Divide both sides by 2 to find w: w = 7/2, so w = $3.50 per pound for walnuts.

Substitute the value of w back into the first equation: 3(3.50) + 2c = 13. Therefore, 10.50 + 2c = 13.

Subtract 10.50 from both sides to find c: 2c = 2.50.

Divide both sides by 2 to get: c = 2.50 / 2, so c = $1.25 per pound for chocolate chips.

Therefore, walnuts cost $3.50 per pound and chocolate chips cost $1.25 per pound.

User Yoyoma
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