Answer:
He bought 14⅓ packages of gum and 31 packages of candy.
Step-by-step explanation:
"gum for $0.15 each and some candy for $0.10 each"
g and c are the numbers of gum and candy bought.
"amount of candy was 12 less than three times the amount of gum"
c = 3g-12
"He spent a total of $5.25"
0.15g + 0.10c = 5.25
substitute 3g-12 for c
0.15g + 0.10(3g-12) = 5.25
0.15g + 0.30g - 1.2 = 5.25
0.45g = 6.45
g = 6.45/0.45 = 14⅓
c = 3g-12 = 31
He bought 14⅓ packages of gum and 31 packages of candy.
14⅓ is absurd, but that's what the numbers say.
