Answer:
A coffee costs $1.25 and a doughnut is $0.80.
Step-by-step explanation
Let the price of each doughnut be x;
Let the price of each coffee be y
If Joe bought 10 cups of coffee and 5 doughnuts for his office at the cost of $16.50, then;
5x + 10y = 16.50 .... 1
Also, if he bought 5 cups of coffee and 10 doughnuts for a total of $14.25, then;
10x + 5y = 14.25 .... 2
Solve both equations simultaneously
Multiply equation 1 by 2 and subtract from equation 2
Equation 1 * 2:
2(5x) + 2(10y) = 2(16.50)
10x + 20y = 33 ..... 3
Subtract 2 from 3
(10x-10x) +(5y - 20y) = 14.25 - 33
-15y = -18.75
y = -18.75/15
y = 1.25
Substitute y = 1.25 into equation 1
From 2: 10x + 5y = 14.25
10x + 5(1.25) = 14.25
10x + 6.25 = 14.25
10x = 14.25 - 6.25
10x = 8
x = 8/10
x = 0.8
Hence a coffee costs $1.25 and a doughnut is $0.80.