Let the price of a maple bag be m dollars. So, the price of an apple bag will be (m-2) dollars. From the given conditions, we have an equation shown below:
6m+5(m-2)=56 Solve the equation for m, getting
6m+5m-10=56 Simplify the equation, getting
11m=66 Divide both sides by 11. we have:
m=6, and m-2=4
The answer: The price of an maple bag is $6, and that of an apple bag is $4.**
** We can also solve this without writing the equations. Think that he or she bought 11 maple bags only, and paid $66 adding $10 to $56. Because the price of 5 maple bags costs $10(=5x2) more than that of 5 apple bags. That is: $66 for 11 maple bags. The price of a maple bag is $6(=66/11), and that of an apple bag is $4(=6-2).