Question

Erica bought oranges and bananas. She bought 12 pieces of

fruit and spent $5. Oranges cost $0.50 each and bananas cost
$0.25 each. Write a system of equations to model the
problem. Then solve the system algebraically. How many
oranges and how many bananas did Erica buy?
How the hell do I solve this and what’s the answer please

Answer 1

8 oranges and

4 bananas

Explanation:

Let the number of oranges be A and that of bananas be B

Given she bought oranges and bananas,She bought 12 pieces of fruits

That’s

A + B = 12

Also

Oranges cost = $0.50

Bananas cost = $0.25

She spent a total of $5

That’s

0.50A + 0.25B = 5

We now have two equations

1. A + B = 12

2. 0.50A + 0.25B = 5

Multiply equation 1 by 0.50 and equation 2 by 1 to eliminate A

We have

0.50A + 0.50B = 6

0.50A + 0.25B = 5

Subtract equation two from equation one

0.25B = 1

Divide both sides by 0.25 to isolate B

0.25B/0.25 = 1/0.25

B = 4

Now substitute 4 for B in either equation to get A

Using equation 1, we have

A + B = 12

A + 4 = 12

Subtract 4 from both sides

A + 4 - 4 = 12 - 4

A = 8

Erica bought 8 oranges and 4 bananas

Check

A + B = 12

8 + 4 = 12