Question

If three apples and two pears cost $2.70 and six apples and two pears cost $3.40, how much does one apple cost?

Answer 1

To find the cost of one apple, we can set up a system of equations. By solving the system using the elimination method, we find that one apple costs $0.23.

Step-by-step explanation:

Let's solve for the cost of one apple using the given information.

First, let's assign variables to the unknowns. Let's say the cost of one apple is x dollars and the cost of one pear is y dollars.

From the given information, we can set up two equations:

1. 3x + 2y = 2.70
2. 6x + 2y = 3.40

We can solve this system of equations by either substitution or elimination. Let's solve it using the elimination method:

1. Multiply both sides of the first equation by 2 to make the coefficients of y the same:

• 6x + 4y = 5.40

Subtract the second equation from the modified first equation:

• 6x + 4y - (6x + 2y) = 5.40 - 3.40
• 2y = 2.00

Divide both sides of the equation by 2:

• y = 1.00

Substitute this value back into one of the original equations to solve for x. Let's use the first equation:

• 3x + 2(1.00) = 2.70
• 3x + 2 = 2.70
• 3x = 0.70
• x = 0.70/3
• x = 0.23

Therefore, one apple costs $0.23.