Final answer:
The correct system of equations is: (a) S = 3B and 20S + 12B = 288. The first equation represents the relationship between sweaters and shirts, while the second equation accounts for the total cost of both items.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question to solve is: If Andrea has 3 times as many sweaters as she has button-up shirts, and the total amount she paid for button-up shirts and sweaters was $288, which system of equations can be used to determine the number of sweaters (S) and button-up shirts (B) that she owns?
Firstly, we can represent the number of sweaters as 3 times the number of button-up shirts, giving us the equation S = 3B. This represents the relationship between the number of sweaters (S) and button-up shirts (B).
Next, we know that each sweater costs $20 and each button-up shirt costs $12. Since the total cost is $288, we can set up the second equation based on the cost of the sweaters and shirts: 20S + 12B = 288.
Thus, the correct system of equations to determine the number of sweaters and button-up shirts Andrea owns is:
So, the answer is (a) S = 3B and 20S + 12B = 288.