<PRE><B>Question 850481</B>
Call pencils P and notebooks N.&lt;P&gt;
P + N = 178, which is the total number of items sold.&lt;P&gt;
.25P + .5N = 58.75 - the price per pencil times the number of pencils sold, plus the price per notebook times the number of notebooks sold, equals the total sales amount.&lt;P&gt;
P + N = 178 so P = 178-N.  Substitute that into the second equation.&lt;P&gt;
.25(178-N) +.5N = 58.75&lt;P&gt;
44.50 - .25N + .5N = 58.75&lt;P&gt;
.25N = 14.25&lt;P&gt;
N = 14.25/.25 = 57&lt;P&gt;
P = 178 - 57 = 121&lt;P&gt;
Check:  .25*121 + .50*57 = 30.25+28.50 = 58.75
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