Answer: one pound of carrot costs $2.39
One pound of apple costs $1.14
Explanation:
Let x represent the cost of one pound of carrot.
Let y represent the cost of one pound of apple.
To get ready for a party this weekend I bought 6 pounds of carrots in 4 pounds of apples for 18.90 dollars. This means that
6x + 4y = 18.9 - - - - - - - - -1
I decided I needed more so I went back to the store and bought 3 pounds of both 10.74 dollars. This means that
3x + 3y = 10.74 - - - - - - - -2
Multiplying equation 1 by 3 and equation 2 by 6, it becomes
18x + 12y = 56.7
18x + 18y = 64.44
Subtracting,
- 6y = - 6.84
y = - 6.84/ - 6
y = 1.14
Substituting y = 1.14 into equation 1, it becomes
6x + 4×1.14 = 18.9
6x + 4.56 = 18.9
6x = 18.9 - 4.56 = 14.34
x = 14.34/6 = 2.39