<PRE><B>Question 68795</B>
Claire bought three bars of soap and five sponges for $2.31. Steve bought five bars of soap and three sponges for $3.05. Find the cost of each item. 

-----------
1st: 3b+5s=2.31

2nd: 5b+3s=3.05
Multiply 1st by 5 to get:
3rd: 15b+25s=11.55
Multiply 2nd by 3 to get:
4th: 15b+9s=9.15
Subtract 4th from 3rd to get:
16s=2.4

s=0.15 or 15 cents (cost of bar of soap)
Substitute into 1st to solve for b:
3b+5(0.15)=2.31
3b+0.75=2.31
3b=1.56
b=0.52 or 52 cents (cost of a sponge)
-------------
Cheers,
Stan H.</PRE>