Solution

Let the cost of one skirt be x shillings and that of one blouse be y shillings. The cost of two skirts and three blouses is 2x + 3y shillings.

The cost of one skirt and two blouses is x + 2y shillings.

So, 2x + 3y = 600……………….. (I)

X + 2y = 350 ……………………….. (II)

Multiplying equation (II) by 2 to get equation (III).

2x + 4y = 700 ……………… (III).

2x + 3y = 600…………………(I)

Subtracting equation (I) from (II), y = 100.

From equation (II),

X + 2y = 350 but y = 100

X + 200 = 350

X = 150

Thus the cost of one skirt is 150 shillings and that of a blouse is 100 shillings.

In solving the problem above, we reduced the equations from two unknowns to a single unknown in y by eliminating. This is the elimination method of solving simultaneous equations.