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Combinations of Shirts and Ties

This is a picture of shirts and ties.

At a local store, three shirts and two ties cost $69, while 2 shirts and 4 ties cost $66. How much does each shirt and tie cost?

Analysis: This problem gives two sets of facts. Each set is a rate problem using the formula number of items X cost per item = cost extension for item Each set of facts has its own table. Two variables are used in each table since the relationship between the cost of the shirts and ties is not given. Since the cost of ties and the cost of shirts are the same in both tables, the same variables are used in both. Two equations can be written based on the sum of costs is equal to the total costs. The two equations use two unknowns and therefore can be solved by substitution. The program uses possessives and table names.

Click to see the shirts and ties tables, the program (an expand program display), or the results. Some problems involve sums of the individual digits of numbers.