Question

If someone orders 250 pens and 250 pencils. The pens cost 11 cents more than the pencils. The total was $42.50. What is the cost of each pen and pencil?

Answer 1

Use an algebraic equation, let's say Pen is X and Pencil is Y.

250 pens + 250 pencils = 42.50 dollars
Rewrite it and it becomes 250x+250y=42.5

1 pen = 1 pencil + 11 cents
Rewrite it and it becomes x=y+11

Using both of the equations solve for X and it you get approximately .14 and .03

A pen costs 14 cents and a pencil costs 3 cents

Answer 2

Answer:the cost of each pen is $0.14

the cost of each pencil is $0.03

Explanation:

Let x represent the cost of each pen.

Let y represent the cost of each pencil.

If someone orders 250 pens and 250 pencils and the total was $42.50. it means that

250x + 250y = 42.50 - - - - - - - - 1

The pens cost 11 cents more than the pencils. Converting 11 cents to dollars, it becomes 11/100 = $0.11. This means that

x = y + 0.11

Substituting x = y + 0.11 into equation 1, it becomes

250(y + 0.11) + 250y = 42.50

250y + 27.50 + 250y = 42.50

250y + 250y = 42.5 - 27.5

500y = 15

y = 15/500

y = 0.03

x = y + 0.11 = 0.03 + 0.11

x = $0.14