Question

A customer went to a garden shop and bought some potting soil for $17.50 and 4 shrubs. The total bill was $53.50. Write and solve an equation to find the price of each shrub.

Answer 1

$9

Explanation:

Let
`x` be the price of each shrub.

• 4 shrubs at
  `x` each costs
  `4x` dollars
• Potting soil is $17.50

Hence, total cost is the expression
`17.5+4x`

We know that total bill is $53.50, so we can equate it to the expression:

`17.50+4x=53.50`

This equation can be solved for
`x` to find cost of each shrub.

Solving for
`x` gives us:

`17.50+4x=53.50\\4x=53.50-17.50\\4x=36\\x=(36)/(4)\\x=9`

So price of each shrub is $9

Answer 2

The total bill: $53.50
17.50 + 4 x = 53.50
4 x = 53.50 - 17.50
4 x = 36
x = 36 : 4
x = $9
Answer: The price of each shrub is $9.