Sarah went to the store and spent $6 on 9 pounds of fruit. The apples cost $0.45 per pound, and the pears cost $1.10 per pound. How many pounds of apples and how many pounds of pears did Sarah buy?

A + p = 9 ... a = 9 - p

0.45a + 1.10p = 6

0.45 (9 - p) + 1.10p = 6

4.05 - 0.45p + 1.10p = 6

-0.45p + 1.10p = 6 - 4.05

0.65p = 1.95

p = 1.95/0.65

p = 3 < = = = there were 3 lbs of pears

a + p = 9

a + 3 = 9

a = 9 - 3

a = 6 < = = there were 6 lbs of apples