Answer: A pear cost $4.
Explanation:
If the total price of four oranges and five pears is $32 then we could represent it by the equation 4x + 5y = 32 where x is cost of one orange and y is the cost of one pear.
The same way we could represent the second statement by the equation
3x + 2y = 17
We know have the two systems of equations:
4x + 5y = 32
3x + 2y = 17 Solve using the elimination method
Multiply the top equation by -3 and the down equation by 4 to eliminate x.
-3(4x + 5y) = -3(32) = -12x - 15y = -96
4(3x +2y) = 4(17) = 12x + 8y = 68
We now have the two new equations:
-12x -15y = -96 Add both equations
12x + 8y = 68
- 7y = -28
y= 4
Which means the cost of one pear is $4.