What if you bought 3 pens and 5 pencils for 2.25 You paid 2.95 for 5 pens and 3 pencils How much is 1 pencil and how much is 1 pen?

where x is the cost of one pen, y is the cost of one pencil:

3x + 5y = 2.25

5x + 3y = 2.95

Just need to isolate x in the first equation: x = 2.25/3 -5y/3, or 0.75 -5y/3

then, substitute .75 -5y/3 for x in the SECOND eq. :

5(.75 - 5y/3) +3y = 2.95

Next, solve for y. then use that value to solve for x. too tired to finish...