Question

Roland has 3 paperback books and 4 hardcover books. Each hardcover book is worth $11 more than each paperback book. If the value of all of his books is $79, what is the cost of one paperback book?

Answer 1

$5

Explanation:

Let cost of paperback book be "p"

and

Cost of hardcover book be "h"

Each hardcover is $11 more than each paperback, thus we can write:

h = p + 11

3 paperbacks at "p" each and 4 hardcovers at "h" each totals 79, thus we can write:

3p + 4h = 79

We can now put the 1st equation in 2nd equation and find "p" (cost of paperback book). Shown below:

`3p + 4h = 79\\3p + 4(p+11) = 79\\3p + 4p + 44 = 79\\7p = 79 - 44\\7p = 35\\p = (35)/(7)\\p = 5`

Hence, each paperback book costs $5