Question

A clothing manufacturer purchased 50 yd of cotton and 80 yd of wool for a total cost of $1,330. Another purchase, at the same prices, included 75 yd of cotton and 20 yd of wool for a total cost of $895. Find the cost per yard of the cotton and of the wool.

Answer 1

The cotton is $9 per yard and the wool is $11 per yard

Explanation:

Create a system of equations where c is the cost per yard for the cotton and w is the cost per yard for the wool.

50c + 80w = 1330

75c + 20w = 895

Solve by elimination by multiplying the bottom equation by -4:

50c + 80w = 1330

-300c - 80w = -3580

Add these together and solve for c:

-250c = -2250

c = 9

Plug in 9 as c into one of the equations, and solve for w:

50c + 80w = 1330

50(9) + 80w = 1330

450 + 80w = 1330

80w = 880

w = 11

The cotton is $9 per yard and the wool is $11 per yard.