Question

Deon bought a desktop computer and a laptop computer. Before finance charges, the laptop cost $250 less than the desktop. He paid for the computers using

two different financing plans. For the desktop the interest rate was 9% per year, and for the laptop it was 6% per year. The total finance charges for one year
were $300. How much did each computer cost before finance charges?

Answer 1

300

Explanation:

Let x = cost of desktop computer; then x - 250 = cost of laptop computer

converting % to decimals, 9% = 0.09 and 6% = 0.06

Then, 0.09x + (x - 250)0.06 = $300

0.09x + 0.06x - 15 = $300

0.15x = $315

x = $2100

then x - 250 = $1850

Proof: $2100•0.09 + 1850•0.06 = $189 + $111 = $300