Algebra word problem solve for x

Kiwiman

New member
Help me solve this word problem please & explain how you did it-thanks so much, I 'm tearing my hair out.

Jason purchased a can of tomato sauce and three pounds of apples for $\$7.05$. Gina purchased a can of tomato sauce and 5 pounds of apples for$\$11.35$. What is the price of the tomato sauce?

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anemone

MHB POTW Director
Staff member
Hi Kiwiman ! Welcome to MHB!

First, we let $T$ to represent the price of a can of tomato sauce and $A$ to represent the price of one pound of apples.

The first statement of the problem can be translated into a mathematical equation, which is

$T+3A=\$ 7.05$and the second statement of the problem can be translated into another mathematical equation, i.e.$T+5A=\$11.35$

If we subtract the second equation from the first equation, we get

$T+5A-(T+3A)=\$ 11.35-\$7.05\\T+5A-T-3A=\$ 4.30\\2A=\$4.30 \\A=\$ 2.15$Once we get the value of$A$, can you tell me what should we do to find the value of$T$? HallsofIvy Well-known member MHB Math Helper Do you understand that "helping you solve a problem" and "explaining how I solved the problem" are completely different things? Jameson Administrator Staff member 50/50 we hear back from this user. Would love to be proven wrong. I hope this teasing gets a reply. Why do you want an answer so badly, @Kiwiman ? Wouldn't you prefer to know how to do it from now on feel more confident about math? HallsofIvy Well-known member MHB Math Helper Help me solve this word problem please & explain how you did it-thanks so much, I 'm tearing my hair out. Jason purchased a can of tomato sauce and three pounds of apples for$\$7.05$. Gina purchased a can of tomato sauce and 5 pounds of apples for $\$11.35\$. What is the price of the tomato sauce?
Let T be the cost of a can of tomato sauce and A the cost of a pound of apples. Then "a can of tomato sauce and 5 pounds of apples" cost T+ 5A= 11.35 and "a can of tomato sauce and 3 pounds of apples" cost T+ 3A= 7.05.

Solve the two equations
T+ 5A= 11.35
T+ 3A= 7.05

I wonder what they intend to make with tomato sauce and apples!