SOLUTION: A vendor sells hot dogs and bags of potato chips. A customer buys 5 hot dogs and 4 bags of potato chips for $6.05. Another customer buys 4 hot dogs and 3 bags of potato chips for

Algebra ->  Coordinate Systems and Linear Equations  -> Linear Equations and Systems Word Problems -> SOLUTION: A vendor sells hot dogs and bags of potato chips. A customer buys 5 hot dogs and 4 bags of potato chips for $6.05. Another customer buys 4 hot dogs and 3 bags of potato chips for      Log On


   



Question 1142421: A vendor sells hot dogs and bags of potato chips. A customer buys 5 hot dogs and 4 bags of potato chips for $6.05. Another customer buys 4 hot dogs and 3 bags of potato chips for $4.75. Find the cost of each item.
Answer by greenestamps(13209) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


Formally, using algebra....

5h%2B4p+=+6.05
4h%2B3p+=+4.75

Solve the pair of equations by any method you like....

Informally, using logical reasoning and some mental arithmetic....

(1) The difference between the two purchases is 1 hot dog and 1 bag of chips for $1.30.
(2) So the cost of 3 hot dogs and 3 bags of chips is $3.90.
(3) Then, since the cost of 4 hot dogs and 3 bags of chips is $4.75, the cost of 1 hot dog is $4.75-$3.90 = 85 cents.
(4) So 4 hot dogs cost 4*85 cents = $3.40; that means the cost of the 3 bags of chips is $4.75-$3.40 = $1.35; and that means the cost of a big of chips is $1.35/3 = 45 cents.

ANSWER: hot dog 85 cents; bag of chips 45 cents