document.write( "Question 68795: Claire bought three bars of soap and five sponges for $2.31. Steve bought five bars of soap and three sponges for $3.05. Find the cost of each item.
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Algebra.Com's Answer #48970 by stanbon(75887) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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Claire bought three bars of soap and five sponges for $2.31. Steve bought five bars of soap and three sponges for $3.05. Find the cost of each item. \r
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\n" ); document.write( "1st: 3b+5s=2.31\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "2nd: 5b+3s=3.05
\n" ); document.write( "Multiply 1st by 5 to get:
\n" ); document.write( "3rd: 15b+25s=11.55
\n" ); document.write( "Multiply 2nd by 3 to get:
\n" ); document.write( "4th: 15b+9s=9.15
\n" ); document.write( "Subtract 4th from 3rd to get:
\n" ); document.write( "16s=2.4\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "s=0.15 or 15 cents (cost of bar of soap)
\n" ); document.write( "Substitute into 1st to solve for b:
\n" ); document.write( "3b+5(0.15)=2.31
\n" ); document.write( "3b+0.75=2.31
\n" ); document.write( "3b=1.56
\n" ); document.write( "b=0.52 or 52 cents (cost of a sponge)
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\n" ); document.write( "Cheers,
\n" ); document.write( "Stan H. \n" ); document.write( "

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