Astudent bought 1 box of crayons and 5 reams of paper for $54. she bought 5 boxes of crayons and 3 reams of paper $50. what is the cost of each box of crayons and each ream of paper?

Lets solve it using a system of equations, c is the price of crayons and p the price of reams of paper, so we have:
1c + 5p = 54
5c + 3p = 50
those equations represent the situation. Lets solve the system multiplying the first equation by -5 and adding it to the second, we have:
-5c - 25p = -270
 5c + 3p = 50

0 - 22p = - 220
22p = 220
p = 10
and now substitute in the original equation:
1c + 5p = 54
1c + 5(10) = 54
c = 4

1.17+3.99a. you combine the terms with a to create 3.99 and the 1.17 stays because it has no like terms or a variable