Two apples and three pears cost $3.45. Three apples and five pears cost $5.55. Find the cost of each type of fruit.

Answer 1

a = apples
p = pears

Two equations

2a + 3p = 345
3a + 5p = 555

Elimination Method

3(2a + 3p = 345)
-2(3a + 5p = 555)

6a + 9p = 1035
-6a - 10p = -1110
________________________

-p = -75
p = 75

2a + 3(75)= 345
2a + 225 = 345
2a = 345 - 225
2a = 120
2a/2 = 120/2
a = 60