SOLUTION: If 2 sodas and 4 hamburgers are $12.00 and 4 sodas and 2 hamburgers are $9.00 how much is a single hamburger?

Algebra ->  Coordinate Systems and Linear Equations  -> Linear Equations and Systems Word Problems -> SOLUTION: If 2 sodas and 4 hamburgers are $12.00 and 4 sodas and 2 hamburgers are $9.00 how much is a single hamburger?      Log On


   



Question 1034736: If 2 sodas and 4 hamburgers are $12.00 and 4 sodas and 2 hamburgers are $9.00 how much is a single hamburger?
Answer by ikleyn(52786) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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If 2 sodas and 4 hamburgers are $12.00 and 4 sodas and 2 hamburgers are $9.00 how much is a single hamburger?
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2s + 4h = 12,    (1)
4s + 2h =  9.    (2)

Multiply (1) by 2. You will get 

4s + 8h = 24,    (1')
4s + 2h =  9.    (2')

Distract (2') from (1'). You will get

8h - 2h = 24 - 9,   or

6h = 15  --->  h = 15%2F6 = 5%2F2 = 2.5.


Thus one hamburger price is $2.50.

Then from (1)  s = %2812-4%2A2.50%29%2F2 = 1.

Answer. One hamburger price is $2.50 and 1 soda costs $1.00.


There is even more elegant way to solve the problem.

Simply add all hamburgers and all sodas. 6 hamburgers and 6 sodas. $12 + $9 = $21.

Hence, 1 hamburger + 1 soda = 21%2F6 = $3.50.

Having this, everybody can solve to the end in this way, actually, without equations and using the mental math only.