Question

Jill and Kim each improved their yards by planting hostas and geraniums. They bought their supplies from the same store. Jill spent $101 on 11 hostas and 2 geraniums. Kim spent $80 on 8 hostas and 2 geraniums. What is the cost of one hosta and one geramium?

Answer 1

Answer: the cost of one hosta is $7

the cost of one geramium is $12

Explanation:

Let x represent the cost of one hosta.

Let y represent the cost of one geramium.

They bought their supplies from the same store. Jill spent $101 on 11 hostas and 2 geraniums. This means that

11x + 2y = 101 - - - - - - - -1

Kim spent $80 on 8 hostas and 2 geraniums. This means that

8x + 2y = 80 - - - - - - - - -2

We will eliminate y by subtracting equation 2 from equation 1, it becomes

3x = 21

x = 21/3 = 7

Substituting x = 7 into equation 2, it becomes

8 × 7 + 2y = 80

56 + 2y = 80

2y = 80 - 56 = 24

y = 24/2 = 12