Question

Nicole sold 1 cherry pie and 9 pumpkin pies for $60. Lisa sold 11 cheery pies and 4 pumpkin pies for $90. what's the cost each of one cherry pie and one pumpkin pie?

Answer 1

x= cost per cherry pie
y= cost per pumpkin pie

NICOLE
1x + 9y= $60

LISA
11x + 4y= $90


STEP 1
multiply Nicole's equation by -11

-11(1x + 9y)= -11($60)
multiply -11 by all terms

(-11 * x) + (-11 * 9y)= (-11 * 60)

-11x - 99y= -660


STEP 2
add Nicole's new equation from step 1 to Lisa's equation to solve for y (using the elimination method)

-11x - 99y= -660
11x + 4y= 90
the x terms "cancel out"

-95y= -570
divide both sides by -95

y= $6 per pumpkin pie


STEP 3
substitute y value into either original equation to solve for x

x + 9y= $60

x + 9(6)= 60

x + 54= 60
subtract 54 from both sides

x= $6 per cherry pie


CHECK
11x + 4y= $90
11(6) + 4(6)= 90
66 + 24= 90
90= 90


ANSWER: Each cherry pie costs $6 and each pumpkin pie costs $6.

Hope this helps! :)