Observation

The Chief Examiner reported that majority of the candidates attempted this question satisfactorily.

In part(a) they did as expected by letting x = cost of a packed lunch and y = cost of a packed breakfast. The total cost relation is 2x + 3y = 40 … (1).

The cost of 2 packed lunch relation is
2x = y – 12.. (2).

Solving equation(1) and (2) gives y = $13.00 . therefore the cost of a packed breakfast is $13.00.

In part (b) they did as expected by forming linear expressions with roots to give(3x + 1) (x – 5).

Then equating to zero gives (3x + 1) (x – 5) = 0. Expanding and simplifying gives 3x2 – 14x – 5 = 0.