Question 59811
Let Mr Adams buy x pounds of pears.
Total quantity bought = 8 pounds.
So quantity of apples bought = (8 - x) pounds.

Cost of 1 pound of apples= $ 1.50
So cost of (8 - x) pounds of apples = $(8-x)(1.50)

Cost of 1 pound of pears = $ 2.30
So cost of x pounds of pears = $x(2.30)

Total cost of fruits = $14

The equation becomes..

(8-x)(1.50) + x(2.30) = 14

==> 12 - 1.50x + 2.30x = 14  [Removing the4 parenthesis by multiplying term by term]

==> 12 + 0.80x = 14
==> 0.80x = 14 - 12 [subtracting 12 from both the sides]
==> 0.80x = 2
==> 0.80x/0.80 = 2/0.80
==> x = 2.5

Mrs Adams bought 2.5 pounds of pears

Good Luck!!!