Question 1104626
let x = the cost of the desktop.
let x + 150 = the cost of the laptop.


the finance charge on the desktop was 7%.
the finance charge on the laptop was 5.5%.


the total finance charge for 1 year was 227.


your equation is .07 * x + .055 * (x + 150) = 227


simplify to get .07 * x + .055 * x + .055 * 150 = 227


combine like terms and simplify further to get .125 * x + 8.25 = 227


subtract 8.25 from both sides of the equation to get .125 * x = 218.75


solve for x to get x = 218.75 / .125 = 1750


that's the cost of the desktop.


the cost of the laptop is 150 more than that = 1900


.07 * 1750 + .055 * 1900 = 227.


solution is confirmed to be good.


desktop cost 1750 and laptop cost 1900 before finance charges.