SOLUTION: A contractor buys 14 yd of nylon carpet and 18 yd of wool carpet for $1648. A second purchase, at the same prices, includes 18 yd of nylon carpet and 23 yd of wool carpet for $2111

 

Hi,

Let x  and y represent the cost of the nylon and wool carpets respectively

Find the cost  per yard of the wool carpet.



 
Solved by pluggable solver: Using Cramer's Rule to Solve Systems with 2 variables


  

  

  

  

  

  

  First let . This is the matrix formed by the coefficients of the given system of equations.

  

  

  Take note that the right hand values of the system are  and  which are highlighted here: 

  

  

  

  

  These values are important as they will be used to replace the columns of the matrix A.

  

  

  

  

  Now let's calculate the the determinant of the matrix A to get . Remember that the determinant of the 2x2 matrix  is . If you need help with calculating the determinant of any two by two matrices, then check out this solver.

  

  

  

  Notation note:  denotes the determinant of the matrix A.

  

  

  

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  Now replace the first column of A (that corresponds to the variable 'x') with the values that form the right hand side of the system of equations. We will denote this new matrix  (since we're replacing the 'x' column so to speak).

  

  

  

  

  

  

  Now compute the determinant of  to get . Once again, remember that the determinant of the 2x2 matrix  is 

  

  

  

  To find the first solution, simply divide the determinant of  by the determinant of  to get: 

  

  

  

  So the first solution is 

  

  

  

  

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  We'll follow the same basic idea to find the other solution. Let's reset by letting  again (this is the coefficient matrix).

  

  

  

  

  Now replace the second column of A (that corresponds to the variable 'y') with the values that form the right hand side of the system of equations. We will denote this new matrix  (since we're replacing the 'y' column in a way).

  

  

  

  

  

  

  Now compute the determinant of  to get .

  

  

  

  To find the second solution, divide the determinant of  by the determinant of  to get: 

  

  

  

  So the second solution is 

  

  

  

  

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  Final Answer:

  

  

  

  

  So the solutions are  and  giving the ordered pair (47, 55)

  

  

  

  

  Once again, Cramer's Rule is dependent on determinants. Take a look at this 2x2 Determinant Solver if you need more practice with determinants.