Answer:
bath towels: $17
washcloths: $6
Step-by-step explanation:
If we let t and w represent the costs of towels and washcloths respectively, the problem statement tells us the combinations of costs are ...
51t +78w = 1335
61t +41w = 1283
These equations are readily solved by any of several techniques. One of my favorite is to let a calculator do it. Most graphing calculators are capable of solving equations like these represented as an augmented matrix:
[tex]\left[\begin{array}{cc|c}51&78&1335\\61&41&1283\end{array}\right][/tex]
An appropriate function for the purpose is one that reduces the matrix to row-echelon form. Then the right-most column is the values of the variables that satisfy the equations.
Here, we get t=17, w=6.
The price of a bath towel is $17; the price of a washcloth is $6.
