Question

The cost of a tie is $21 less than the cost of two shirts. A sweater costs $8.50 more than a shirt. If two shirts, a tie, and a sweater cost $55, find the cost of the sweater

Answer 1

Let S=cost of sweater. A shirt costs S-8.50 dollars, two shirts cost 2S-17 dollars, and a tie costs 2S-17-21=2S-38 dollars. So 2S-17+2S-38+S=55, 5S=55+17+38=$110. Therefore S=110/5=$22.

Check: 2 shirts cost 44-17=$27, a tie costs 44-38=$6, total cost=27+6+22=$55. OK! A sweater costs $22.