Question

A party rental company has chairs and tables for rent. The total cost to rent 3 chairs and 2 tables is $22. The total cost to rent 5 chairs and 6 tables is $60. What is the cost to rent each chair and each table?

Answer 1

The cost to rent each chair and each table are $1.5 and $8.75 respectively

Explanation:

Let x represent 1 chair

Let y represent 1 table

Therefore

3x + 2y = 22 ------------(1)

5x + 6y = 60 ------------(2)

Multiply (1) by 5 and (2) by 3

15x + 10y = 110 ----------(3)

15x + 18y = 180 ------------(4)

Subtract (3) from (4)

8y = 70

Divide through by 8

y = $8.75

Substitute y = 8.75 in (1)

3x + 2y = 22

3x + 2(8.75) = 22

3x + 17.5 = 22

Collect like terms

3x = 22 - 17.5

3x = 4.5

Divide through by 3

x =$1.5