At a school snack counter, apples cost \(\$0.50\) each and granola bars cost \(\$1.00\) each. A student spends exactly \(\$4.50\) and buys only these two items.
1. Write a linear equation in two variables that represents the situation.
2. Find at least three possible combinations of apples and granola bars.
3. Explain why the exact numbers of each item cannot be determined without more information.
4. Give an example of additional information that would produce a unique solution.
Hints
- Define variables for the two item counts.
- Multiply each unit price by its quantity.
- Try several nonnegative integer values for one variable.
- What kind of second condition would create another independent equation?
Solution
1. Let \(x\) be the number of apples and \(y\) the number of granola bars. The equation is \(0.5x + y = 4.5\).
2. Nonnegative integer solutions include \((1, 4)\), \((3, 3)\), \((5, 2)\), \((7, 1)\), and \((9, 0)\).
3. One equation with two unknowns is underdetermined. In this context, several nonnegative integer pairs satisfy the equation.
4. A second independent condition is needed. For example, if the student bought \(6\) items total, then \(x + y = 6\), and the unique solution is \((3, 3)\).
Answer
1. \(0.5x + y = 4.5\)
2. Examples: \((1, 4)\), \((3, 3)\), and \((5, 2)\)
3. One equation in two unknowns has multiple possible solutions.
4. Example: “The student bought \(6\) items total.”