box of chalk and 2 staplers cost $10.00. Three boxes of chalk and 2 staplers cost $18.00. How much is a box of chalk and a stapler?

x is box of chalk

y is staplers

x + 2y = 10
3x + 2y = 18

solve for x and then plug in and solve for y

x+2y=10

3x+2y=18
Multiply the first equation by -1 to cancel the y's:
-x-2y=-10
3x+2y=18
Now add the rows
2x=8
x=?
Now plug that back into either original equation to solve for y.

16

the answer is

To solve this problem, we need to set up a system of equations. Let's assume the cost of a box of chalk is "C" dollars and the cost of a stapler is "S" dollars.

From the given information, we can write two equations:

First equation: C + 2S = 10.00 (equation 1) - This represents the cost of one box of chalk and two staplers, which totals $10.00.

Second equation: 3C + 2S = 18.00 (equation 2) - This represents the cost of three boxes of chalk and two staplers, which totals $18.00.

Now, we can solve this system of equations using either substitution or elimination method. Let's use the elimination method to solve it.

Multiply equation 1 by 3:

3C + 6S = 30.00

Now, subtract equation 2 from the modified equation:

(3C + 6S) - (3C + 2S) = (30.00 - 18.00)

After simplifying, we have:

4S = 12.00

Divide both sides of the equation by 4:

S = 3.00

Now, substitute the value of S (3.00) into equation 1:

C + 2(3.00) = 10.00

Simplifying, we get:

C + 6.00 = 10.00

Subtract 6.00 from both sides:

C = 4.00

Therefore, a box of chalk and a stapler cost $4.00.