Kayla is purchasing 5 candles for x dollars each and 5 candle holders for $3.50 each. Kayla paid a total of $27.50. Before tax, what is the cost per candle?

Answer 1

To find the cost per candle (x), we can set up the equation based on the information provided.

Kayla is buying:

• 5 candles at x dollars each, totaling \( 5x \) dollars.
• 5 candle holders at $3.50 each, totaling \( 5 \times 3.50 \) dollars, which equals \( 17.50 \) dollars.

The total amount paid is $27.50, so we can write the equation:

\[ 5x + 17.50 = 27.50 \]

Now, we can solve for \( x \):

1. Subtract $17.50 from both sides: \[ 5x = 27.50 - 17.50 \] \[ 5x = 10.00 \]

2. Now, divide both sides by 5: \[ x = \frac{10.00}{5} \] \[ x = 2.00 \]

Thus, the cost per candle before tax is $2.00.