document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1014305>Question 1014305</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Jane purchased a skirt, sweater and a pair of shoes for $138. The sweater is 9/8 of the cost  of the skirt. The shoes cost $13 more than the skirt? How much is the cost per item? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #630725 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><B>Theo(13342)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=Theo><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=630725\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> a = cost of the skirt.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b = cost of the sweater.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "c = cost of the shoes.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "a + b + c = 138.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "cost of the sweater is 9/8 times the costs of the skirt.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "the equation for that is b = 9a/8.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "the shoes cost 13 dollars more than the skirt.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "the equation for that is c = a + 13\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "you have 3 equations to work with.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "a + b + c = 138<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b = 9a/8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "c = a + 13\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "in the equation of a + b + c = 138, replace b with 9a/8 and replace c with a + 13 to get:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "a + b + c = 138 becomes a + 9a/8 + a + 13 = 138\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "combine like terms to get 2a + 9a/8 + 13 = 138.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "since 2a = 16a/8, the equation becomes 16a/8 + 9a/8 + 13 = 138\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "combine like  terms again to get 25a/8 + 13 = 138.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "subtract 13 from both sides of this equation to get 25a/8 = 138 - 13.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "simplify to get 25a/8 = 125.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "multiply both sides of this equation by 8 and divide both sides of this equation by 25 to get a = 8*125/25\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "this results in a = 40\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "when a = 40:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "9a/8 = 9*40/8 = 9*5 = 45.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "a + 13 = 40 + 13 = 53.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "a = 40<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b = 45<BR>\n" );
document.write( "c = 53\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "a + b + c = 40 + 45 + 53 = 138.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "this checks out ok.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "b = 9a/8 = 9*40/8 = 45.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "this checks out ok.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "c = a = 13 = 40 + 13 = 53.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "this checks out ok.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "the cost per item is:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "skirt = 40<BR>\n" );
document.write( "sweater = 45<BR>\n" );
document.write( "shoes = 53.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "that's your solution.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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