A bat and a ball cost one dollar and ten cents in total. The bat costs a dollar more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?

We can have the ball equal \(b\). With this, we can set up an equation that says \(2b + 1 = 1.1\). Therefore, \(b = 0.05\). This means that the ball is \(5\) cents. 

- Daisy

Thanks Daisy,   

Here is just a little more explanation ... I am doing it the long way but it might be easier to understand ... maybe 

A bat and a ball cost one dollar and ten cents in total. The bat costs a dollar more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?

I am going to change the bat to a racket. So I have  R and B

B+100 = R       all in cents,    I can rearrange this to

B-R     =   -100     (1)

I also know that

B+R    =    110     (2)

Now solve simultaneously  -   add

2B+0   =  10

Ball =    5c