Question

Totsakan and Lea each improved their yards by planting hostas and geraniums. They bought their supplies from the same store. Totsakan spent $178 on 14 hostas and 12 geraniums. Lea spent $71 on 7 hostas and 4 geraniums. What is the cost of one hosta and the cost of one geranium?

Answer 1

The cost of one hosts is $5 and the coat of one geranium is $9

Explanation:

Let the cost of one hosta be x

Let the cost of one geranium be y

If Totsakan spent $178 on 14 hostas and 12 geraniums, then the expression to represent this statement will be;

14x+12y = 178

7x+6y = 89 .... 1

Also if Lea spent $71 on 7 hostas and 4 geraniums, the the expression that represent the statement is;

7x+4y = 71..... 2

Subtract equation 1 from 2:

(7x-7x)+(6y-4y) =89-71

0+2y = 18

2y = 18

y = 18/2

y = 9

Substitute y = 9 into equation 1:

7x+6(9) = 89

7x +54 = 89

7x = 89-54

7x = 35

x = 35/7

x = 5

Therefore the cost of one hosts is $5 and the coat of one geranium is $9