math homework help...?

Question

Six apples and three oranges cost $3.36. Two apples and five oranges cost $3.04. Find the cost of an apple and the cost of an orange.

It involves systems of equations... and I really dont get it. Please help.

Answer 1

ok. let x=apples and y=oranges

6x+3y=3.36, is your first equation
2x+5y=3.04, is your second.

heres what you do:

first you have to cancel out one of the variables. lets cancel out x. to cancel it out, you would have to have opposite vaules.
lets see, 6,2. 6 is a common multiple.

so lets multiply 2x+5y=3.04 by -3 to get -6x+-15y=-9.12

so now our equation is:
6x+3y=3.36
-6x-15y=-9.12

so 6-6=o, x is gone.

that leaves 3y-15y and 3.36-9.12 solve for y

-12y=5.76
y=.48

whew, tough parts over

now substitute .48 for y, in any equation you choose.

lets do 6x+3y=3.36

6x+3(.48)=3.36 become 6x+1.44=3.36

6x=1.92

x=.32

so its (.32,.48)

check the math.

so lets review:
define variables
cancel out a variable by finding common multiple
solve
substitute
solve


hope this helps

Answer 2

Nice job but one mistake. -12y = - 5.76, otherwise the answer is negative.