System of Equation problem help

[survivorboi]

A man went to the store to buy three things, chicken, vegetables, and bananas. The total of his spent was $20.

Vegetables plus 9 dollars equals to the Chicken.

(Chicken plus vegetable) then minus $16 equals bananas.

How much is chicken, vegetable, and bananas each?

Remember, the total of his spent was $20.


Vegetable=V
Chicken=C
Banana=B

V+9=C
(C+V)-16=Banana


Please give me step by step on how to solve this problems. I would like to understand the problem as well as be able to solve similar problems, so please help me. Thanks!

[stapel_eliz]

Assuming that he bought one of each, your third equation would be:

. . . . .V + B + C = 20

Then solve the system by whatever method you prefer.

[survivorboi]

Assuming that he bought one of each, your third equation would be:

. . . . .V + B + C = 20

Then solve the system by whatever method you prefer.

But how do I know how much of each did he buy? Plus, the problem doesn't even tell you the amount of money he paid for each item, you were suppose to figure that out.

And what methods do you mean? Can you tell me some ? THANKS!

[stapel_eliz]

We don't know; that's why I said "assuming". (If this assumption is incorrect, then we need more information, or else this is a Diophantine system, which requires other methods.)

For "the methods" (which they were supposed to have covered in class), try reading the lesson at the link, provided earlier.

[math-is-easy]

A man went to the store to buy three things, chicken, vegetables, and bananas. The total of his spent was $20.

Vegetables plus 9 dollars equals to the Chicken.

(Chicken plus vegetable) then minus $16 equals bananas.

How much is chicken, vegetable, and bananas each?

Remember, the total of his spent was $20.


Vegetable=V
Chicken=C
Banana=B

V+9=C
(C+V)-16=Banana

the equation you are trying to solve is V+C+B=20 well use substitution substitute for C and B making it
V+(V+9)+((C+V)-16)=20 then substitute for C again
V+(V+9)+(((V+9)+V)-16)=20 then just solve it
2V+9+((2V+9)-16)=20
2V+9+(2V-7)
4V+2=20
4V=18
V=$4.50 now just substitute for the other equations
V+9=C
4.5+9=C
$13.50=C and solve for B
(C+V)-16=B
(13.5+4.5)-16=B
18-16=B
$2.00=B now check your answer
2.5+13.5+4=20
16+4=20
20=20
which means it's correct