16Hit1600
AlgebraVery hardSum of two prices from two receipts

Algebra practice question

A shop sells mugs at m dollars each and plates at p dollars each. One receipt shows 4 mugs and 3 plates for $17; another shows 6 mugs and 5 plates for $27. What is the value of m + p?

Answer: 5

4m + 3p = 17 and 6m + 5p = 27. Multiplying the first by 3 and the second by 2: 12m + 9p = 51 and 12m + 10p = 54, so p = 3 and m = 2. Then m + p = 5.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 2
2 is the price of a mug alone.
If you answered 3
3 is the price of a plate alone.
If you answered 10
10 is 2 × 5, the cost of one of each doubled.

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