Mrs. Aiken bought some peaches at $1.49 per pound and some blueberries at $1.99 per pound to use in fruit salad she is making for an exciting math party at her house. She paid $20.38 for a total of 12 pounds of the two kinds of fruit. How many pounds of peaches did she buy?

P = peaches B=Blueberries

$1.49 p + $1.99 b = $20.38

p + b = 12 lbs.

Take p + b = 12 subtract p from both sides. b = 12-p

Now substitute b = 12 - p for b in $1.49 p + $1.99 b = $20.38

Looks like this $1.49 p + $1.99 (12-p) = $20.38

Distribute $1.99 * 12 = 23.88

Distribute $1.99 * p = $1.99p

$1.49 p + $23.88 - $1.99p = $20.38

Combine $1.49 p - $1.99p = - 0.50

-$0.50p + $23.88 = $20.38

Subtract $23.88 on both sides.

-$0.50p = - $3.50

Divide both sides by - $0.50

peaches = 7 lbs