Question

A party rental company has chairs and tables for rent. The total cost to rent 2 chairs and 5 tables is $53. The total cost to rent 8 chairs and 3 tables is $42. What is the cost to rent each chair and each table?

Answer 1

c=cost of one chair rental

t=cost of one table rental

8c+3t=42

2c+5t=53

multiply the second equation, each term on both sides, by -4

8c+3t=42

-8c-20t=-212

add the two equations

-17t=-170

divide both sides by -17

t=$10 to rent one table

substitute t=10 into either original equation

2c+5(10)=53

2c+50=53

2c=3

c=$1.50 to rent one chair