Michael bought 2 notebooks and 1 pen for 7 dollars. Rick bought one notebook and 5 pens for 8 dollars

Notebooks=x

pens=y

7=2x+y

8=x+5y = = > x=8-5y

substitute into the first equation

7=2 (8-5y) + y

7=16-10y+y

7=16-9y

-9=-9y

y=1

now substitute y to find x

x=8-5y

x=8-5 (1)

x=8-5

x=3

assuming you want amount of money for each item, a notebook is $3, and a pen is $1.