Answer: the cost of one apple is $1
Explanation:
Let x represent the cost of one apple.
Let y represent the cost of one Pomegranate.
Donata bought 3 Apples and 5 Pomegranates at the local supermarket for a total of $16.50. This means that
3x + 5y = 16.5 - - - - - - - - - - - - -1
Meaghan bought 6 Apples and 11 Pomegranates at the same store for a total of $35.70. This means that
6x + 11y = 35.7- - - - - - - - - - - - -2
Multiplying equation 1 by 2 and equation 2 by 1, it becomes
6x + 10y = 33
6x + 11y = 35.7
Subtracting, it becomes
- y = - 2.7
y = 2.7
Substituting y = 2.7 into equation 1, it becomes
3x + 5 × 2.7 = 16.5
3x + 13.5 = 16.5
3x = 16.5 - 13.5 = 3
x = 3/3 = 1