We bought 3 pairs of socks and 2 handkerchiefs for $ 1.45 and, yesterday, 2 pairs of stocking and 5 handkerchiefs for $ 1.75. Determine the price of a pair of socks and a handkerchief

Equations for the numbers of pairs of socks (s) and handkerchiefs (h) can be written as

3s + 2h = 1.45

2s + 5h = 1.75

These can be solved by any of your favorite means to find

s = 3.75/11 ≈ 0.341

h = 2.35/11 ≈.214

The price of a pair of socks and a handerchief is $0.34 + 0.21 = $0.55.