Question

For each customer, a bakery charges p dollars for the first loaf of bread bought by the customer and charges q dollars for each additional loaf bought by the customer. What is the value of p ?

Answer 1

Consider the complete question is,

'For each customer, a bakery charges p dollars for the first loaf of bread bought by the customer and charges q dollars for each additional loaf bought by the customer. What is the value of p ?

(1) A customer who buys 2 loaves is charged 10 percent less per loaf than a customer who buys a single loaf.

(2) A customer who buys 6 loaves of bread is charged 10 dollars.

Solution :

Since, the charges of first loaf = p dollars,

Charges for each additional loaf = q dollars

Thus, the total charges for x additional loaf = p + qx

Charges for 1 loaf = p,

Charges for 2 loaf per loaf = (p + q)/2

According to the question,

`(p + q)/(2) = (100-10)\%\text{ of } p`

`(p + q)/(2) = 90%\text{ of }p`

`p + q = 1.8p`

`p + q - 1.8p = 0`

`-0.8p + q = 0` .....................(1),

Again according to the question,

p + 5q = 10 .....................(2),

Equation (2) - 5 × equation (1),

p + 4p = 10

5p = 10

⇒ p = 2

Hence, the value of p would be 2.