Soup and salad cost $5.50 in total. the soup costs a dollar more than the salad. how much does the salad cost (in cents) ?

Let the cost of soup be X

Let the cost of salad be Y

The soup and salad cost totally be X+Y = 5.50 - - - eqn 1

Given the relation that the cost of soup (X) is a one dollar more than that of

salad (Y), and it can be written as a equation X = Y+1 - - eqn 2

Sub eqn 2 in 1 we get Y+Y+1 = 5.50; 2Y+1 = 5.50; Y = 2.25

therefore X+Y = 5.50; sub Y in the equation 1 X+2.25 = 5.50;

X = 5.50 - 2.25 = 3.25; ie soup = 325 cents; salad = 225 cents

Soup + Salad = 5.50

Soup = Salad + 1

Subtitute both formulas into:

Salad + 1 + Salad = 5.50

2 Salad = 4.50

Salad = $ 2.25

= 225 cents