how much did a pear cost?

Question

mrs lin bought 12 pears and 4 apples .

mrs wang bought12 pears and 4 apples .

mrs wang paid $1.60 less than mrs lin.

if an apple cost 35 cents , how much did a pear cost?

 

Answer 1

Let the cost of an apple be A and the cost of  a pear P.

Mrs Lin spent 12P+4A.

Perhaps Mrs Wang spent 4P+12A because she bought 4 pears and 12 apples?

Mrs Lin spent $1.60 more than Mrs Wang, so:

12P+4A=4P+12A+1.60,

8P=8A+1.60. If A=$0.35, then:

8P=8×0.35+1.60=2.80+1.60=$4.40,

P=4.40/8=$0.55, or 55 cents. A pear costs 55 cents.