Question 508510
if 3 apples and 2 pears cost $6.00 and 7 apples and 6 pears cost $15.00, how much will one apple and one pear cost?" 
given solution: 
3a+2p=6.00
7a+6p=15.00 
"because these two equations do not have the same 'y' value, they must be changed in order to eliminate one of the variables." 
(this is where i ran into trouble) 
-3(3a+2p=6.00)=-9a - 6p=-18.00 
-----------------
3a+2p=600
7a+6p=1500 
Multiply the 1st eqn by -3
-9a - 6p = -1800
+7a + 6p = 1500
----------------- Add
-2a = -300
a = 150 cents, etc.
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You were doing the right thing, just didn't finish it.