Answer:
Cost of a pair of socks = x = $4.5
Cost of a pair of shoes = y = $21.5
Step-by-step explanation:
Let us represent
Cost of a pair of socks = x
Cost of a pair of shoes = y
Mai bought 3 pairs of socks and 2 pairs of shoes.
She spent $56.50.
Hence:
3x + 2y = 56.50
A pair of shoes costs one dollar less than 5 times the price of a pair of socks.
y = 5x - 1
Hence, we substitute 5x - 1 for y
3x + 2y = 56.50
3x + 2(5x - 1) = 56.5
3x + 10x - 2 = 56.5
13x - 2 = 56.5
13x = 56.5 + 2
13x = 58.5
x = 58.5/13
x = $4.50
Solving for y
y = 5x - 1
y = 5(4.5) - 1
y = 22.5 − 1
y = $ 21.5
Cost of a pair of socks = x = $4.5
Cost of a pair of shoes = y = $21.5