Question

A store is having a sale on jellybeans and almonds for 2 pounds of jellybeans and 5 pounds of almonds the total cost is eight in dollars for 8 pounds of jellybeans and 3 pounds of almonds the cost is $21 final cost for each pound of jellybeans in each pound of

Answer 1

• jellybeans: $2 13/34 ≈ $2.38 per pound
• almonds: $11/17 ≈ $0.65 per pound

Explanation:

If j and a represent the dollar cost per pound of jellybeans and almonds, respectively, then the two purchases can be represented by the equations ...

• 2j +5a = 8
• 8j +3a = 21

Multiply the first equation by 4 and subtract the second:

4(2j +5a) -(8j +3a) = 4(8) -(21)

17a = 11

a = 11/17

j = (8 - 5(11/17))/2 = 2 13/34

Each pound of jellybeans costs 2 13/34 dollars; each pound of almonds costs 11/17 dollars. Rounded to cents, these costs are $2.38 and $0.65 per pound.