At an ice cream parlor, ice cream cones cost $1.10 and sundaes cost $2.35. One day, the receipts for a total of 172 cones and sundaes were $294.20. How many cones were sold?

88 cones

represent

Let’s say ##x =## cones

and

##y =## sundaes

Our first equation would be ##x + y = 172##

And the second equation would be ##1.10x + 2.35y = 294.20##

Solve by substitution using the first equation. First Isolate the ##x## variable

##x + y = 172##

##x = 172 – y##

Then we substitute the value of ##x## to the second equation:

##1.10(172-y) + 2.35y = 294.20##

##189.2 – 1.10y + 2.35y = 294.20##

##1.25y = 294.20 – 189.20##

##1.25y = 105##

##y = 84## ( sundaes )

Then, to find the number of cones, we use ##x = 172 – y##

##x = 172 – 84##

##x = 88##

Hence 88 cones were sold.