Here is the question to the last post

Hi!

So the first thing to do is to combine the common terms on each side.

On the left side, 13 and 2a cannot be put together because 2 has a multiplier that 13 does not.

On the right side, however, there are two numbers with the multiplier a. Add those together!

3a + 2a = 5a.

13 + 2a = 5a - 14

Now we want to isolate a to one side. Let's do the right side.

To do this, we have to subract 2a from both sides to get a on only one side.

13 + 2a - 2a = 5a - 2a - 14.

Subract.

13 = 3a - 14.

We have to do the same for the 14 on the right side. Instead, since the number is being subracted from 3a, we have to add it to both sides.

13 + 14 = 3a + 14 - 14.

27 = 3a

a = 9.

to determine the unit cost your would divide the total cost by the number sold.

7 bagels for $4.41       $4.41/7 = $.63 each at fresh side

5 bagels for $3.60         $3.60/5 = $.72 each at value mart