Question

The cost of an orange and an apple is 72 cents. The cost of apple and a plum is 36 cents. The cost of an orange and a plum is 62 cents. What would be the total cost of 2 apples, 2 oranges, and 1 plum?

Answer 1

Cost of `2` apples, `2` oranges and `1` plum is `157` cents.

Explanation:

1. An orange and an apple cost `72` cents.

2. An apple and a plum cost `36` cents.

3. An orange and a plum cost `62` cents.

Adding all three - two oranges, two apples and two plums must cost `72+36+62=170` cents

i.e. one orange, one apple and one plum cost `170/2=85` cents.

Now as cost of all the three is `85` cents, but an orange and an apple cost `72` cents (statememt (1)),

plum must cost `85-72=13` cents

Similarly subtracting (2) and (3), we find

orange costs `85-36=49` cents and

apple costs `85-62=23` cents

Hence, cost of `2` apples, `2` oranges and `1` plum is `23xx2+49xx2+13=46+98+13=157` cents.

Also observe that as one orange, one apple and one plum cost `85` cents and an orange and an apple cost `72` cents

adding them cost of `2` apples, `2` oranges and `1` plum is `85+72=157` cents.