Question

Jolly and Pauline spent $1450 altogether on Christmas gifts while Harry and Jolly spent $2658 altogether. If Harry spent thrice as much as Pauline,how much did Jolly spend?

Answer 1

Lets use x to represent how much each person spent.
Jolly's amount = xPauline's amount = yHarry's amount = 3y (he spent 3 times more than Pauline)
1. Set up 2 equations:
Jolly + Pauline = $1440 x + y = 1440
Jolly + Harry = $2658x + 3y = 2658
2. Put the equations in terms of x ( x = ______)
Jolly + Pauline x + y = 1440In terms of x:          x = 1440 - y
Jolly + Harry x + 3y = 2658In terms of x:         x = 2658 - 3y
3. Set the two equations equal to each other (so we can find the value of y, pauline’s amount)
If x = (1440 - y) and x also = (2658 - 3y), then 1440 - y must = 2658 - 3y
1440 - y = 2658 - 3y


4. Move like terms to the same side to find the value of y (pauline’s amount)-y + 3y = 2658 - 14402y = 1218
y = 1218/2y = 609

Pauline spent $609 total

5. Find out how much Jolly spentFrom earlier steps we found Pauline spent $609.We know that Pauline and Jolly spent a joint total of $1440, so subtract 609 from 1440 to find Jolly’s amount
1440 - 609 = 831

Jolly spent 831 dollars total.

Hope this answers your question, and May the Force Be With You!

-Jabba