The total cost of a pair of shoes and a belt was $71.57. If the price of the pair of shoes was $1.79 less than the belt, what was the price of the pair of shoes? Express your answer as a simplified fraction or a decimal rounded to two places.

Answer 1

$71.57

Let x = price of belt

shoes = (price of belt) - $1.79 = x - 1.79

total = $71.57

(x - 1.79) + x = 71.57

2x - 1.79 = 71.57

2x = 71.57 + 1.79

2x = 73.36

(2x)/2 = (73.36)/2

x = 36.68 (this is the price of the belt)

shoes = (price of belt) - $1.79 = x - 1.79 = 36.68 - 1.79 = $34.89