Question

A pencil at a stationery store costs $1, and a pen costs $1.50. Stefan spent $7 at the store. He bought a total of 6 items. Which system of equations can be used to find the number of pencils (x) and pens (y) he bought? (5 points)

Answer 1

Hello!

You can make two equations based on what you know

He bought 6 items

x + y = 6

A pencil cost $1 and a pen cost $1.50

1x + 1.50y = 7

This can be simplified to

x + 1.50y = 7

Now you solve the system of equations

x + y = 6
x + 1.50y = 7

You can subtract the equations from each other to get rid of x

-0.5y = -1

Divide both sides by -0.5

y = 2

Put this into one of the original equations

x + 2 = 6

Subtract 2 from both sides

x = 4

He bought 4 pencils and 2 pens

Hope this helps!