Sarah bought 3 pencils and 2 erasers for $7. John bought 2 pencils and 4 erasers for $8. What is the cost of one pencil?

A $1.00

B $1.50

C $2.00

D $2.50

✓ Correct Answer: Option B

Let 'p' be pencil cost and 'e' be eraser cost. Equations: 3p + 2e = 7 and 2p + 4e = 8. Multiply the first by 2: 6p + 4e = 14. Subtract the second: (6p + 4e) - (2p + 4e) = 14 - 8, which simplifies to 4p = 6. Thus, p = $1.50.

💡 Why is B) the correct answer?

The correct answer to the question "Sarah bought 3 pencils and 2 erasers for $7. John bought 2 pencils and 4 erasers for $8. What is the cost of one pencil?" is Option B: $1.50.

The other options — A) $1.00, C) $2.00, D) $2.50 — are incorrect for this GED Exam Prep question. As explained above: Let 'p' be pencil cost and 'e' be eraser cost. Equations: 3p + 2e = 7 and 2p + 4e = 8. Multiply the first by 2: 6p + 4e = 14. Subtract the second: (6p + 4e) - (2p + 4e) = 14 - 8, which simplifies to …

📚 About This GED Exam Prep Practice Question

This 4-level GED Exam Prep question from the Mathematical Reasoning topic is part of BrainForge Quiz's free exam preparation library. Each question includes the correct answer and a detailed explanation to help you understand the underlying concept, not just memorize the answer.

How to use this page: Read the question above, consider all four options (A through D), then check the highlighted correct answer and explanation. For active timed practice, start a free GED Exam Prep practice test or use flashcards for spaced repetition review.

Practice GED Exam Prep Quizzes → Browse All Questions Study Flashcards

Sarah bought 3 pencils and 2 erasers for $7. John bought 2 pencils and 4 erasers for $8. What is the cost of one pencil?

✓ Correct Answer: Option B

📚 About This GED Exam Prep Practice Question

Related GED Exam Prep Questions