A party rental company has chairs and tables for rent. The total cost to rent

2

chairs and

5

tables is

$43

. The total cost to rent

8

chairs and

3

tables is

$36

. What is the cost to rent each chair and each table?

2c+5t=43

c = (43-5t) / 2

8c+3t=36 and using c found above in this equation gives you:

4 (43-5t) + 3t=36

172-20t+3t=36

-17t=-136

t=8, and since c = (43-5t) / 2

c=1.5

So a table costs $8.00 to rent and a chair costs $1.50