Answer: each fern cost $4
Each rose bush cost $3
Explanation:
Let x represent the cost of one fern
Let y represent the cost of one rosebush.
Matt purchased 8 ferns and 1 rosebush for $35. This is expressed as
8x + y = 35 - - - - - - - - - -1
Trey purchased 4 ferns and 3 rosebushes for $25. This is expressed as
4x + 3y = 25 - - - - - - - - - 2
We will solve equation 1 and equation 2 with the elimination method. To eliminate y, Multiply equation 1 by 3 and equation 2 by 1. It becomes
24x + 3y = 105
4x + 3y = 25
Subtracting both equations,
20x = 80
x = 80/20 = 4
Substituting x = 4 into equation 1, it becomes
8×4+ y = 35
y = 35 - 32
y = 3