Final answer:
The cost of a ruler is £0.35 and the cost of a pencil is £0.25.
Step-by-step explanation:
Let's solve this problem using a system of equations approach:
Let's assume that the cost of a ruler is x and the cost of a pencil is y.
According to the first statement, 4 rulers and 3 pencils cost £2.15, so we can write the equation: 4x + 3y = 2.15.
According to the second statement, 3 rulers and 4 pencils cost £2.05, so we can write the equation: 3x + 4y = 2.05.
To solve this system of equations, we can use the method of substitution or elimination.
Let's use the method of elimination:
Multiply the first equation by 3 and the second equation by 4 to make the coefficients of x in both equations the same:
12x + 9y = 6.45
12x + 16y = 8.2
Subtract the first equation from the second equation to eliminate x:
12x + 16y - (12x + 9y) = 8.2 - 6.45
7y = 1.75
Divide both sides of the equation by 7:
y = 0.25
Now substitute the value of y back into one of the original equations (let's use the first equation):
4x + 3(0.25) = 2.15
4x + 0.75 = 2.15
Subtract 0.75 from both sides of the equation:
4x = 1.4
Divide both sides of the equation by 4:
x = 0.35
Therefore, the cost of a ruler is £0.35 and the cost of a pencil is £0.25.