The first thing we are going to do for this case is define variables:
x: gallons of paint
y: brushes
We then have the following expression:
f (x, y) = 13x + 9y
For x = 1 and y = 2 we have:
f (1, 2) = 13 (1) + 9 (2)
f (1, 2) = 13 + 18
f (1, 2) = 31
Answer:
The total cost, not including tax, of the brushes and the paint they bought is:
$ 31