Question 1060704
5p+3s = 145 multiply all times 5
2p+5s = 135 multiply all times -3
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New equations (after multiplication. Add them together:
25p+15s = 725
+
-6p-15s = -405
19p-0s = 320
rewrite:
19p = 320 divide both sides by 19
p = 16.84 is the price of one pair of pants.
:
Now for the shirts:
5p+3s = 145 multiply all times 2
2p+5s = 135 multiply all times -5
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New equations (after multiplication. Add them together:
10p+6s = 290
+
-10p-25s = -675
0p-19s = -385
rewrite
-19s = -385 divide both sides by -19, and remember -/- = +
s = 20.26
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Or you can take a shortcut for the shirts:
145-(16.84*5))/3 = 20.26
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Check - Put these numbers in the original equations (I'll do one, you can do the other if you want):
5p+3s = 145 
5(16.84)+3(20.26) = 145
84.20+60.78 = 144.98 = 145 there is a difference of 0.02 due to the rounding of decimals.
:
John