Let the pair of jeans cost x dollars and the pair of corduroy cost y dollars.
"A pair of jeans costs 75% as much as a pair of corduroy pants."
this means [tex] x=\frac{75}{100}*y [/tex], simplifying by 25:
[tex]x= \frac{3}{4} y[/tex] (equation 1)
"the total cost for the jeans and cords is $42?"
x+y=42 (equation 2)
substitute x form equation 1, in equation 2
x+y=42
[tex] \frac{3}{4} y+y=42[/tex]
[tex] \frac{3}{4} y+ \frac{4}{4} y=42[/tex]
[tex]7y=4*42 [/tex]
y=4*6=24
substitute y=24 in either of equations 1 or 2:
x+y=42 (equation 2)
x+24=42
x=42-24=18
Answer: Jeans cost 18$, Cords cost 24$
