At a college bookstore, Carla purchased a math textbook and a novel thjat cost a total of $54, not including tax. If the price if the math textbook, m, is $8 more than 3 times the price of the novel, n, write a system of linear equations that could be used to determine the price of each book?

Answer 1

m + n = 54
3n+8=m
plug in 3n+8 for m in the first equation
3n+8+n=54
4n+8=54
4n=46
n= $11.50 which means m= $42.50

Answer 2

n=$11.50
m=$42.50