Real-World Applications 3x3

Three by three systems of linear equations are also used to solve real-life problems. The given
problem is expressed as a system of linear equations and then solved to determine the value of
the variables. Sometimes, the system will consist of three equations but not every equation will
have three variables. Example three is one such problem.

Example 1: Solve the following problem using your knowledge of systems of linear
equations.

Jesse, Maria and Charles went to the local craft store to purchase supplies for making
decorations for the upcoming dance at the high school. Jesse purchased three sheets of craft
paper, four boxes of markers and five glue sticks. His bill, before taxes was $24.40. Maria
spent $30.40 when she bought six sheets of craft paper, five boxes of markers and two glue
sticks. Charles, purchases totaled $13.40 when he bought three sheets of craft paper, two
boxes of markers and one glue stick. Determine the unit cost of each item.

Let p represent the number of sheets of craft paper.

Let m represent the number of boxes of markers.
Let g represent the number of glue sticks.

Express the problem as a system of linear equations:

3 p 4m 5 g $24.40
6 p 5m 2 g $30.40
3 p 2m g $13.40
Solve the system of linear equations to determine the unit cost of each item.

3 p 4m 5 g 24.40 3 p 4m 5 g 24.40 3 p 4m 5 g 24.40

3 p 2m g 13.40
5(3 p 2m g 13.40)
15 p 10m 5 g 67.00
12 p 6m 42.60

6 p 5m 2 g 30.40 6 p 5m 2 g 30.40 6 p 5m 2 g 30.40

3 p 2m g 13.40
2(3 p 2m g 13.40)
6 p 4m 2 g 26.80
m 3.60
 12 p 6m 42.60
12 p 6(3.60) 42.60 3 p 2m g 13.40
12 p 21.60 42.60 3(1.75) 2(3.60) g 13.40
12 p 21.60 21.60 42.60 21.60 5.25 7.20 g 13.40
12 p 21 12.45 g 13.40
12 21 12.45 12.45 g 13.40 12.45
p
12 12 g .95
p 1.75

The unit cost of each item is: 1 sheet of craft paper = $1.75
1 box of markers = $3.60
1 glue stick = $0.95

Example 2: Solve the following problem using your knowledge of systems of linear
equations.

Rafael, an exchange student from Brazil, made phone calls within Canada, to the United
States, and to Brazil. The rates per minute for these calls vary for the different countries.
Use the information in the following table to determine the rates.

Month Time within Time to the Time to Brazil Charges

Canada (min) U.S. (min) (min) ($)
September 90 120 180 $252.00
October 70 100 120 $184.00
November 50 110 150 $206.00

Let c represent the rate for calls within Canada.

Let u represent the rate for calls to the United States.
Let b represent the rate for calls to Brazil.

Express the problem as a system of linear equations:

90c 120u 180b $252.00

70c 100u 120b $184.00
50c 110 u 150b $206.00

90c 120u 180b 252.00 2(90c 120u 180b 252.00)

70c 100u 120b 184.00 3(70c 100u 120b 184.00)

180c 240u 360b 504.00

210c 300u 360b 552.00
30c 60u 48.00

70c 100u 120b 184.00 5(70c 100u 120b 184.00)

50c 110 u 150b 206.00 4(50c 110u 150b 206.00)
 350c 500u 600b 920.00

200c 440u 600b 824.00

150c 60u 96.00

30c 60u 48.00 1( 30c 60u 48.00) 30c 60u 48.00

150c 60u 96.00 150c 60u 96.00 150c 60u 96.00
120c 48.00
120 48.00
c
120 120
c .40

70c 100u 120b 184.00

30c 60u 48.00
70(.40) 100(.60) 120b 184.00
30(.40) 60u 48.00
28.00 60.00 120b 184.00
12.00 60u 48.00
88.00 120b 184.00
12.00 12.00 60u 48.00 12.00
88.00 88.00 120b 184.00 88.00
60u 36.00
120b 96.00
60 36.00
u 120 96.00
60 60 b
120 120
u .60
b .80

The cost of minutes within Canada is $0.40/min. The cost of minutes to the United States
is $0.60/min. The cost of minutes to Brazil is $0.80/min.

Example 3: Solve the following problem using your knowledge of systems of linear
equations.

Calculate the number of minutes that Carlos called within Canada, to the United States, and
to Mexico during the month of December. The charges are 28/min within Canada, 30/min
to the U.S., and 84/min to Mexico if the following conditions applied:
His total bill for the month was $90.96
He talked twice as long to Mexico as he did to the U.S.
The total number of minutes spent talking within Canada and to Mexico was 122.
Let c represent the number of minutes within Canada
Let u represent the number of minutes to the United States
Let m represent the number of minutes to Mexico

Express the problem as a system of linear equations:

.28c .30u .84m $90.96

2u m
c m 122

Solve c m 122 for c c 122 m

 Replace m with 2u in c 122 m c 122 2u

Now replace c and m in the first equation to get an equation in terms of the variable u.

34.16 34.16 1.42u 90.96 34.16

.28(122 2u ) .30u .84( 2u ) 90.96
1.42u 56.80
34.16 .56u .30u 1.68u 90.96
34.16 1.42u 90.96
1.42 56.80
u
1.42 1.42
u 40

c m 122
2u m
c 80 122
2(40) m
c 80 80 122 80
80 m
c 42

Carlos talked for 42 minutes within Canada, to the U.S. for 40 minutes and to Mexico for
80 minutes.

Example 4: Solve the following problem using your knowledge of systems of linear
equations.

Tracy, Danielle and Sherri bought snacks for a girls sleepover. They each bought the items
shown in the following table at the local convenience store:

Number of bags of Number of litres of Number of Cost

potato chips pop chocolate bars ($)
4 4 6 21.00
3 2 10 20.88
2 3 4 13.17

Calculate the unit price of each snack purchased by the girls.

Let c represent the unit cost of the potato chips.

Let p represent the unit cost of the pop.
Let b represent the unit cost a chocolate bar.

Express the problem as a system of linear equations:

4c 4 p 6b 21.00
3c 2 p 10b 20.88
2c 3 p 4b 13.17

4c 4 p 6b 21.00 4c 4 p 6b 21.00 4c 4 p 6b 21.00

3c 2 p 10b 20.88

2(3c 2 p 10b 20.88) 6c 4 p 20b 41.76
2c 14b 20.76
 3c 2 p 10b 20.88 3(3c 2 p 10b 20.88) 9c 6 p 30b 62.64
2c 3 p 4b 13.17

2( 2c 3 p 4b 13.17) 4c 6 p 8b 26.34
5c 22b 36.30

2c 14b 20.76 5( 2c 14b 20.76) 10c 70b 103.80

5c 22b 36.30 2( 5c 22b 36.30) 10c 44b 72.60
26b 31.20
26 31.20
b
26 26
b 1.20

2c 3 p 4b 13.17
2c 14b 20.76
2(1.98) 3 p 4(1.20) 13.17
2c 14(1.20) 20.76
3.96 3 p 4.80 13.17
2c 16.80 20.76
3 p 8.76 13.17
2c 16.80 16.80 20.76 16.80
3 p 8.76 8.76 13.17 8.76
2c 3.96
3 p 4.41
2 3.96
c 3 4.41
2 2 p
3 3
c 1.98
p 1.47

The price of one bag of potato chips is $1.98.

The price of one litre of pop is $1.47
The price of one chocolate bar is $1.20

Exercises:

1. Solve the following systems of linear equations algebraically:

 3a 2b 3c 1 3 p 3q 2r 7 2x y z 3 c 2d 3e 13
a) 4a 3b c 7 b) p 2q r 3 c) x 2 y 2 z 4 d) 3c 2d e 1
2a b 2c 16 2 p 2q r 8 3x y z 9 2c d 2e 4

2. A local computer company sells three types of laptop computers to three nearby
stores. The number of laptops ordered by each store and the amount owing to the
company for the order is shown in the following table:

Store Laptop A Laptop B Laptop C Amount

Owing($)
Wal-Mart 10 8 6 21 200
Sears 7 9 5 18 700
Target 8 4 3 13 000

Write a system of equations to represent the above information and determine the unit
price of each type of laptop computer.

3. Cory, Josh and Dan went shopping for Halloween treats. Cory bought 3 chocolate
pumpkins, 4 masks and 8 candy witches. He spent $36.65. Josh bought 5 chocolate pumpkins,
3 masks and 10 candy witches. He spent $37.50. Dan bought 4 chocolate pumpkins, 5 masks
and 6 candy witches. He spent $43.45. Write a system of equations to represent this problem
and algebraically calculate the unit price of each item purchased.

4. Janet, Larry and Sam bought decorations to decorate the clubhouse for a
Christmas party. The number of items bought by each person is given in the table
along with the total cost of each purchase. Write a system of equations to represent
this problem and algebraically calculate the unit price of each item. Each item was
bought at the same store.

Name of the Number of Number of Number of Cost

shopper rolls of wreaths poinsettias
garland
Janet 2 4 2 $49.50
Larry 3 2 4 $57.75
Sam 3 3 1 $38.50

Solutions:

3a 2b 3c 1
1.a) 4a 3b c 7
2a b 2c 16
3a 2b 3c 1 3a 2b 3c 1 3a 2b 3c 1
3( 4a 3b c 7)

4a 3b c 7 12a 9b 3c 21
9a 7b 22

4a 3b c 7 2(4a 3b c 7) 8a 6b 2c 14

2a b 2c 16 2a b 2c 16 2a b 2c 16
10a 5b 30

9a 7b 22 5( 9a 7b 22) 45a 35b 110

10a 5b 30 7(10a 5b 30) 70a 35b 210
25a 100
25 100
a
25 25
a4

10a 5b 30 2a b 2c 16
10(4) 5b 30 2(4) 2 2c 16
40 5b 30 10 2c 16
40 40 5b 30 40 10 10 2c 16 10
5b 10 2c 6
5 10 2 6
b c
5 5 2 2
b2 c 3

The solution is (a, b, c) = (4, 2, -3)

3 p 3q 2r 7
b) p 2q r 3
2 p 2q r 8

3 p 3q 2r 7 3 p 3q 2r 7 3 p 3q 2r 7
p 2q r 3
2( p 2q r 3)
2 p 4q 2r 6
5 p 7q 1

p 2q r 3 1( p 2q r 3) p 2q r 3
2 p 2q r 8

2 p 2q r 8 2 p 2q r 8
p 4q 11

5 p 7q 1 5 p 7q 1 5 p 7q 1
p 4q 11
5( p 4q 11)
5 p 20q 55
27 q 54
27 54
q
27 27
q 2
 p 2q r 3
3 2( 2) r 3
p 4 q 11 3 4 r 3
p 4( 2) 11 1 r 3
p 8 11 1 1 r 3 1
p 8 8 11 8 r 2
p3 1 2
r
1 1
r 2

The solution is (p, q, r) = (3, -2, 2)

2x y z 3
c) x 2 y 2 z 4
3x y z 9

2x y z 3 2( 2 x y z 3) 4 x 2 y 2 z 6
x 2 y 2 z 4
x 2 y 2 z 4
x 2 y 2 z 4
3 x 4 z 10

x 2 y 2 z 4 x 2 y 2 z 4 x 2 y 2 z 4
3x y z 9
2(3 x y z 9)
6 x 2 y 2 z 18
7 x 14
7 14
x
7 7
x2
3 x 4 z 10
3( 2) 4 z 10 2x y z 3
6 4 z 10 2( 2) y 1 3
6 6 4 z 10 6 4 y 1 3
4 z 4 5 y 3
4 4 55 y 35
z y 2
4 4
z 1

The solution is (x, y, z) = (2, -2, 1)

c 2d 3e 13
d) 3c 2d e 1
2c d 2e 4

c 2d 3e 13 3(c 2d 3e 13) 3c 6d 9e 39

3c 2d e 1 3c 2d e 1 3c 2d e 1
4d 10e 38
c 2d 3e 13 2(c 2d 3e 13) 2c 4d 6e 26

2c d 2e 4 2c d 2e 4 2c d 2e 4
5d 4e 22

4d 10e 38 5( 4d 10e 38) 20d 50e 190

5d 4e 22 4( 5d 4e 22) 20d 16e 88
34e 102
34 102
e
34 34
e 3

4d 10e 38
4d 10(3) 38 c 2d 3e 13
4d 30 38 c 2( 2) 3( 3) 13
4d 30 30 38 30 c 4 9 13
4d 8 c 13 13
4 8 c 13 13 13 13
d
4 4 c0
d 2

The solution is (c, d, e) = (0, -2, -3)

2. Let a represent the price of Laptop A.
Let b represent the price of Laptop B.
Let c represent the price of Laptop C.

10a 8b 6c 21200
7 a 9b 5c 18700
8a 4b 3c 13000

10a 8b 6c 21200 5(10a 8b 6c 21200) 50a 40b 30c 106000

7 a 9b 5c 18700 6(7 a 9b 5c 18700) 42a 54b 30c 112200
8a 14b 6200

10a 8b 6c 21200 10a 8b 6c 21200 10a 8b 6c 21200

2(8a 4b 3c 13000)

8a 4b 3c 13000 16a 8b 6c 26000
6a 4800
6 4800
a
6 6
a 800
 10a 8b 6c 21200
8a 14b 6200
10(800) 8(900) 6c 21200
8(800) 14b 6200
8000 7200 6c 21200
6400 14b 6200
15200 6c 21200
6400 6400 14b 6200 6400
15200 15200 6c 21200 15200
14b 12600
6c 6000
14 12600
b 6 6000
14 14 c
6 6
b 900
c 1000

Laptop A costs $800.00. Laptop B costs $900.00. Laptop C costs $1000.00

3. Let p represent the unit price of the chocolate pumpkin.

Let m represent the unit price of the mask.
Let w represent the unit price of the candy witch.

3 p 4m 8w 36.65
5 p 3m 10 w 37.50
4 p 5m 6 w 43.45

3 p 4m 8w 36.65 3(3 p 4m 8w 36.65) 9 p 12m 24 w 109.95

5 p 3m 10 w 37.50

4(5 p 3m 10 w 37.50) 20 p 12m 40 w 150.00
11 p 16 w 40.05

5 p 3m 10 w 37.50 5(5 p 3m 10w 37.50) 25 p 15m 50 w 187.50

4 p 5m 6 w 43.45
12 p 15m 18w 130.35
3(4 p 5m 6 w 43.45)
13 p 32 w 57.15

11 p 16 w 40.05 2(11 p 16 w 40.05) 22 p 32 w 80.10

13 p 32 w 57.15
13 p 32 w 57.15
13 p 32 w 57.15
9 p 22.95
9 22.95
p
9 9
p 2.55

4 p 5m 6 w 43.45
11 p 16 w 40.05
4(2.55) 5m 6(0.75) 43.45
11( 2.55) 16 w 40.05
10.20 5m 4.50 43.45
28.05 16 w 40.05
14.70 5m 43.45
28.05 28.05 16 w 40.05 28.05
14.70 14.70 5m 43.45 14.70
16 w 12.00
5m 28.75
16 12.00
w 5 28.75
16 16 m
5 5
w 0.75
m 5.75
 Each chocolate pumpkin costs $2.55.
Each mask costs $5.75.
Each candy witch costs $.75.

4. Let g represent the cost of the garland.

Let w represent the cost of a wreath.
Let p represent the cost of a poinsettia.

2 g 4 w 2 p 49.50
3 g 2 w 4 p 57.75
3 g 3w p 38.50

2 g 4 w 2 p 49.50 2 g 4 w 2 p 49.50 2 g 4 w 2 p 49.50

3 g 3w p 38.50
2(3 g 3w p 38.50)
6 g 6 w 2 p 77.00
4 g 2 w 27.50

3 g 2 w 4 p 57.75 3 g 2 w 4 p 57.75 3 g 2 w 4 p 57.75

3 g 3w p 38.50
4(3 g 3w p 38.50)
12 g 12 w 4 p 154.00
9 g 10 w 96.25

4 g 2 w 27.50 5( 4 g 2 w 27.50) 20 g 10 w 137.50

9 g 10 w 96.25
9 g 10 w 96.25
9 g 10 w 96.25
11g 41.25
11 41.25
g
11 11
g 3.75

2 g 4 w 2 p 49.50
4 g 2 w 27.50
2(3.75) 4(6.25) 2 p 49.50
4(3.75) 2 w 27.50
7.50 25.00 2 p 49.50
15.00 2 w 27.50
32.50 2 p 49.50
15.00 15.00 2 w 27.50 15.00
32.50 32.50 2 p 49.50 32.50
2 w 12.50
2 p 17.00
2 12.50
w 2 17.00
2 2 p
2 2
w 6.25
p 8.50

The cost of each roll of garland is $3.75.

The cost of each wreath is $6.25.
The cost of each poinsettia is $8.50.