Question

Mara bought 8 boxes of pencils and 3 packages of pens for $24. At the same store, Elaine bought 4 boxes of pencils and 6 packages of pens for $30. How much does one box of pencils cost

Answer 1

pencils=$4

pen=$1.5

Explanation:

Step one:

given data

let pencils be x and pens be y

Mara bought 8 boxes of pencils and 3 packages of pens for $24

8x+3y=24------------1

Elaine bought 4 boxes of pencils and 6 packages of pens for $30

4x+6y=30------------2

solve 1 and 2 simulteneoulsy

8x+3y=24---------X1

4x+6y=30----------X2

subtract the answer bellow

8x+3y=24

8x+12y=60

0-9y=-36

divide both sides by- 9

y=36/9

y=$4

put y= 4 in 1

8x+3*4=24

8x+12=24

8x=24-12

8x=12

divide both side by 8

x= 12/8

x=3/2

x= $1.5