document.write( "Question 617635: clair bought two bars of soap and six sponges for $5.50. steve bought three bars of soap and five sponges for $8.25. what is the cost for each item? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #388449 by josmiceli(19441) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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Let $\"+a+\"$ = the cost of a bar of soap
\n" ); document.write( "Let $\"+b+\"$ = the cost of a sponge
\n" ); document.write( "given:
\n" ); document.write( "(1) $\"+2a+%2B+6b+=+5.5+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+3a+%2B+5b+=+8.25+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "-------------------
\n" ); document.write( "Multiply both sides of (1) by $\"3\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Multiply both sides of (2) by $\"2\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Then subtract (2) from (1)
\n" ); document.write( "(1) $\"+6a+%2B+18b+=+16.5+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+-6a+-+10b+=+-16.5+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+8b+=+0+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+b+=+0+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "and
\n" ); document.write( "(1) $\"+2a+=+5.5+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(1) $\"+a+=+2.75+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "and
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+3a+=+8.25+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+a+=+2.75+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "It looks like the bars of soap are $2.75 each
\n" ); document.write( "and the sponges are free. \n" ); document.write( "

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