Question

Last week, Amirah bought 7 books and 5 movies for a total of $71. Today, Amirah bought 23 books and 9 movies for a total of $159. Assuming neither item has changed in price, what is the cost of a book in dollars?

(A) 5.5
(B) 6.5
(C) 7.5
(D) 8.5

Answer 1

To find the cost of a book, we need to set up a system of equations using the given information and solve for the cost of a book.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the cost of a book, we need to set up a system of equations based on the given information. Let's assume the cost of a book is 'x' dollars. From the first scenario, we know that 7 books and 5 movies cost $71, so we can write the equation: 7x + 5y = 71, where 'y' represents the cost of a movie. From the second scenario, we know that 23 books and 9 movies cost $159, so we can write the equation: 23x + 9y = 159. Solving these two equations simultaneously will give us the values of 'x' and 'y'.

By solving these equations, we find that x = $7.5 and y = $5. Therefore, the cost of a book is $7.5.