Question

A store is having a sale on almonds and jelly beans. For 3 pounds of almonds and 5 pounds of jelly beans, the total cost is $25. For 9 pounds of almonds and 7 pounds of jelly beans, the total cost is $53. Find the cost for each pound of almonds and each pound of jelly beans.

Answer 1

Let a stand for almonds and j for jelly beans.

3a+5j=25
9a+7j=53

Let’s multiply the first equation by -3 to get
-9a-15j=-75

Then you can use elimination and solve for j

-9a-15j= -75
9a+ 7j= 53

-8j = -22
j= 2.75

Now find a

3a + 5(2.75)=25
3a + 13.75 = 25
3a = 11.25
a = 3.75

Price for almonds is $3.75 and for jelly beans $2.75