Discussion

Explanation:

Let the cost of 1 apple be a, cost of 1 mango be m and the cost of 1 orange be k

Then,

5a + 7m + 9k = 184   ...(1)

2a + 5m + 8k = 144   ...(2)

We can observe the difference between the coefficients in equations (1) and (2) are 2 and 3 respectively.

So, multiplying equation (1) by 3 and equation (2) by 2, we get:

15a + 21m + 27k = 552

4a + 10m + 16k = 288

Now subtracting the two equations gives:

11a + 11m + 11k = 264

⇒ a + m + k = 264/11

⇒ a + m + k = 24

Hence, option (d).

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