<PRE><B>Question 148918</B>
x=cost of bagels (in cents)
y=cost of cream cheese (in cents)
coefficient=quantity


Jim bought 2 bags of bagels and 3 packages of cream cheese and paid $9.75:
2x+3y=975


He bought 4 bags of bagels and 2 packages of cream cheese and paid $12.50:
4x+2y=1250


So you have two equations:
2x+3y=975
4x+2y=1250


Multiply the first equation by negative two:
-4x-6y=-1950
4x+2y=1250


Add the equations
-4y=-700


You have successfully eliminated x from the equation (for now).


Divide by -4
y=175


That is the cost of the cream cheese in cents.  Plug that back into either original equation, how about the first one:
2x+3(175)=975


Simplify
2x+525=975


Subtract 525 from both sides
2x=450


Divide by 2
x=225


That is the cost of the bagels in cents.
So,


1 Package of Cream cheese=$1.75
1 Bag of Bagels=$2.25</PRE>