Cost of each book is $ 8 and cost of each pencil is $ 6
Solution:
Let "a" be the cost of 1 book
Let "b" be the cost of 1 pencil
John paid $34 for 2 books and 3 pencils
Therefore,
2 books x cost of 1 book + 3 pencil x cost of 1 pencil = 34
[tex]2 \times a + 3 \times b = 34[/tex]
2a + 3b = 34 ----------- eqn 1
He paid $36 for 3 books and 2 pencils
3 books x cost of 1 book + 2 pencil x cost of 1 pencil = 36
[tex]3 \times a + 2 \times b = 36[/tex]
3a + 2b = 36 -------- eqn 2
Let us solve eqn 1 and eqn 2
Multiply eqn 1 by 2
4a + 6b = 68 ---------- eqn 3
Multiply eqn 2 by 3
9a + 6b = 108 --------- eqn 4
Subtract eqn 3 from eqn 4
9a + 6b = 108
4a + 6b = 68
( - ) -------------
5a = 40
a = 8
Substitute a = 8 in eqn 1
2(8) + 3b = 34
16 + 3b = 34
3b = 34 - 16
3b = 18
b = 6
Thus cost of each book is $ 8 and cost of each pencil is $ 6
