A school bought pens, each costing $1, and pencils, each costing $0.5. The cost of the whole purchase was $220. How many pens and pencils were purchased if there were 80 more pencils than pens?

Explanation:

You can set a system of two equations.

1. Variables

2. Cost

          x + 0.5y = 220 ↔ equation (1)

3. There were 80 more pencils than pens

Then:

  pencils  =      80   +   pens

       ↓                               ↓

       y        =      80   +      x        ↔ equation (2)

4. Solve the system

i) Substitute the equation (2) into the equation (1):

ii) Solve

iii) Substitute x = 120 into the equation (2)

Solution: 120 pens and 200 pencils ← answer

repeat the question

step-by-step explanation: