Question 178493
let the cost of each apple and orange be a and o respectively
:
7a+12o=5.36...eq 1
5a+8o=3.68....eq 2
:
use elimination method. muliply all terms in eq 1 by -5 and all terms in eq 2 by 7
:
-5(7a+12o=5.36--->-35a-60o=-26.8.....eq 1 revised
7(5a+8o=3.68------>35a+56o=25.76.....eq 2 revised
:
It is plain to see that the a terms are eliminated when you add these two equations together because -35a+35a=0. We are left with -60o+56o=-26.8+25.76
:
-4o=-1.04
:
{{{highlight(o=.26)}}}cents-cost of an orange
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take o's found value and plug it back into any numbered equation
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I choose eq 2
:
5a+8(.26)=3.68
:
5a+2.08=3.68
:
5a=1.60
:
{{{highlight(a=.32)}}}cents-cost of an apple

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