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 Question from Bryson: Yolanda, Brian, and Charlie have a total of in their wallets. Brian has less than Yolanda. Charlie has times what Brian has. How much do they have in their wallets?

Hi Bryson,

The numbers didn't come through in your question so I am going to supply my own.

Yolanda, Brian, and Charlie have a total of $\$27$in their wallets. Brian has$\$2$ less than
Yolanda. Charlie has $3$ times what Brian has. How much do they have in their wallets?

Suppose Yolanda has $Y$ dollars, Brian has $B$ dollars, and Charlie has $C$ dollars. Now put the fact you know into equation form.

Yolanda, Brian, and Charlie have a total of $\$27$in their wallets. $Y + B + C = 27. \mbox{ Equation 1}$ Brian has$\$2$ less than Yolanda.

$B = Y - 2. \mbox{ Equation 2}$

Charlie has $3$ times what Brian has.

$C = 3 \times B. \mbox{ Equation 3}$

Equation 1 has three variables, $Y, B$ and $C$ and I would like to transform it into an equation with one variable. Equation 2 says $B = Y - 2$ or $Y = B + 2$ and hence if I substitute $Y = B + 2$ into equation 1 I will have converted equation 1 to an equation with two variables. $B$ and $C$.

Equation 3 says $C = 3 \times B$ and now if I substitute $C = 3 \times B$ into the converted equation 1 I will have an equation with only one variable, $B.$ Solve this equation for $B.$

Penny

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