<PRE><B>Question 892884</B>
John bought a certain number of apples at 30 cents each and he had 3 dollars left.
 If he bought the same number of pears at 40cent each instead of the apples, he would be short of 1 dollar, how many apples did he buy?
:
Let A = amt he had to spend
let n = number of apples or pears
:
Write an equation for each transaction

A - .30n = 3
A - .40n = -1
--------------subtraction eliminates A
0 +.10n = 4
n = 4/.1
n = 40 apples (or pears)
:
:
Check this, find the Amt he had
A = .30(40) + 3
A = 12 + 3
A = $15 to speed
Check in the pear statement
15 - .40(40) = 
15 - 16 = -1</PRE>