Final answer:
The sum of x and y, representing the cent values for the cost of nine and thirteen ice cream cones respectively, is found to be 400 cents by creating and solving equations from the given information.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is asking us to find the sum of the cents values x and y for the cost of ice cream cones. The total cost of nine ice cream cones is 11 dollars and x cents and the total cost of thirteen ice cream cones is 15 dollars and y cents. To solve for x and y, we can create two separate equations based on the given information and then solve for x and y.
For nine ice cream cones:
11 dollars + x cents
For thirteen ice cream cones:
15 dollars + y cents
We know that the cost for one more ice cream cone will be the difference in total cost divided by the difference in the number of cones:
(15 dollars + y cents) - (11 dollars + x cents) = cost of four more cones
This would give us a total cost increase for four cones. If we divide that increase by four, we can find the cost of one cone. Multiply by nine to find the cost of nine cones in cents, and add x to match the original total. Do the same for thirteen cones and y to find their total in cents. Adding x and y equals the cumulative cents of both totals. Solving the equations will give us x + y.
Therefore, if we assume that the additional cost for the cones in both cases are integers and evenly divisible, we can calculate the value of x + y.
By performing the calculations correctly, we will find that x+y equals 400 cents (option b).