James has a certain amount of money. If he buys 3 pens and 2 pencils, he will have 2 left over. If he buys 2 pens and 3 pencils, he will have 6 left over. If Judith arrives with the same amount of money as James, together they can buy 6 of each and spend all their money. If a is the cost of one pen and b is the cost of one pencil, compute the ordered pair (a,b) .
I'll start you off
James has $ X
Pens cost $ a
Pencils cost $ b
Now you can forget about the dollar signs, I just think it is easier if you use a money symbol to start with,
Make an equation for James and then a second equation for the two of them.
Then get back to me.
If you want me to answer more fully than this in the future you need to discuss what you have already tried.
But do this, or do what you can, and if you are still stuck I will happily help more.