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| Question 332774:  I own a company that sells high-end computers; I made 2 orders from a vendor: the first one was for 1300 desktops and 400 laptops totaling $48,700.  The second order was for 600 desktops and 200 laptops totaling $23,200. The receipts were not itemized.  What is the cost of one desktop and one laptop?
 I need to be able to show the work.
 Answer by jrfrunner(365)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! let D=cost of desktop let L=cost of laptop
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 you have these two unknowns, so you need two independet equations to solve
 (always need as many equations as there are unknowns!!)
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 you are given
 order #1:  1300*D + 400*L=48700
 order #2:  600*D + 200*L=23200
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 simplify (always simply if can, to save you effort later on)
 divide first equation by 100
 13*D + 4*L=487
 divide second equation by 200
 3*D + L=116
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 now you can either solve via by elimination or substitution (among many other methods)
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 try elimination
 13*D +4*L=487
 3*D + L =116   (multiply this equation by -4)
 -12*D-4*L = -464
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 add the first and modified 3rd equation, to eliminate the L variable
 D=487-464=23
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 since D=23, go upstream and subtitute this D=23 into one of the equation to solve for L
 13*D +4*L=487
 3*D + L =116  i'll choose this one
 3*(23) + L =116
 L=116-3*(23) =47
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 so, D=23 and L=47
 check with the original equations to make sure no mistake was made
 order #1:  1300*D + 400*L=48700 check 1300*23+400*47
 order #2:  600*D + 200*L=23200   check 600*23+200*47
 
 
 
 
 
 
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