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At a community luau, Leilani purchases 3 vegetarian meals and 5 pork with pineapple meals, paying a total of $54. Bane buys 1 vegetarian meal and 4 pork with pineapple meals, spending $39. How much does each meal cost?

1 Answer

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Final answer:

By setting up a system of equations using the number of each type of meal and their costs, we can find the cost of each meal. The cost of each vegetarian meal is $3 and the cost of each pork with pineapple meal is $9.

Step-by-step explanation:

We can solve this problem by setting up a system of equations using the number of each type of meal and their respective costs.

Let's assume that the cost of a vegetarian meal is x dollars, and the cost of a pork with pineapple meal is y dollars.

Using the given information, we can form the following equations:

  • 3x + 5y = 54 (equation 1)
  • x + 4y = 39 (equation 2)

We can solve this system of equations using any method, such as substitution or elimination. I will use the elimination method:

Multiplying equation 2 by 3:

  • 3(x + 4y) = 3(39)
  • 3x + 12y = 117

Subtracting equation 1 from the above equation:

  • (3x + 12y) - (3x + 5y) = 117 - 54
  • 12y - 5y = 63
  • 7y = 63
  • y = 9

Substituting the value of y into equation 2:

  • x + 4(9) = 39
  • x + 36 = 39
  • x = 3

Therefore, the cost of each vegetarian meal is $3 and the cost of each pork with pineapple meal is $9.

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