Question

On Monday. I bought 3 shirts and 7 pairs of pants for a total cost of $17.25. On

Tuesday, I bought 3 shirts and 9 pairs of pants for a total cost of $20.25. Can you
find the price of each item?

Answer 1

1 shirt costs $191.20

1 pair of pants cost $1.65

Answer 2

Shirt: $2.25. and Pants: $1.50

Explanation:

Set up equations with shirts as s and pants as p.

• 3s+7p=17.25
• 3s+9p=20.25

Subtract them as there are two variables and two equations:

• -2p=-3
• Make positive, 2p=3
• Divide, p=1.5

To find s:

• 3s+7(1.5)=3s+10.5=17.25, so 3s=6.75 and s=2.25
• 3s+9(1.5)=3s+13.5=20.25, so 3s=6.75 and s=2.25