SOLUTION: Word problems are my biggest issues when doing algebra. i don't know what sequence i need to use to turn them into an equation to even begin to solve them. Someone, please help. Wh

Algebra ->  Coordinate Systems and Linear Equations  -> Linear Equations and Systems Word Problems -> SOLUTION: Word problems are my biggest issues when doing algebra. i don't know what sequence i need to use to turn them into an equation to even begin to solve them. Someone, please help. Wh      Log On


   

Question 143123: Word problems are my biggest issues when doing algebra. i don't know what sequence i need to use to turn them into an equation to even begin to solve them. Someone, please help. What do i do?
A man goes into a grocery store and buys a grapefruit and a toy ball. A 7% tax is applied to the price of non-food items. If the total bill is $5.15, including $0.18 in tax on the toy ball, what are the prices of the grapefruit and the ball?
Answer by checkley77(12844) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The price of the ball is:
.07b=.18
b=.18/.07
b=2.57 price of the ball before the tax is added.
ball+tax+grapefruit=5.15
.57+.18+g=5.15
g=5.15-2.57-.18
g=2.40 price of the grapefruit.