Question

sofia recycled 3 pounds less than the amount james recycled. hannah recycled 3 times the amount sofia recycled. if the three recycled a total of 73 pounds, how many pounds did sofia recycle?

Answer 1

Answer  

Find out the  how many pounds did sofia recycle .

To prove

Let us assume that the james recycled be = x

As given

sofia recycled 3 pounds less than the amount james recycled.

hannah recycled 3 times the amount sofia recycled.

Sofia recycled be = x - 3

hannah recycled be = 3 × (x - 3)

As given

the three recycled a total of 73 pounds .

Than the equation becomes

x + x - 3 + 3 × (x - 3) = 73

x + x - 3 + 3x - 9 = 73

5x - 12 = 73

5x = 73 + 12

5x = 85

$x= \frac{85}{5}$

x = 17

Sofia recycled be = x - 3

                            = 17 - 3

                           = 14 pounds

Therefore 14 pounds sofia recycled .

Answer 2

Let the amount James recycled be x.

Sofia recycled 3 pounds less than the amount James recycled.

Therefore, the amount Sofia recycled is x - 3.

Hannah recycled 3 times the amount Sofia recycled.

Therefore, the amount Hannah recycled = 3(x - 3).

The three recycled a total of 73 pounds.

Therefore, x + (x - 3) + 3(x - 3) = 73

x + x - 3 + 3x - 9 = 73

5x - 12 = 73

5x = 73 + 12

5x = 85

Divide both sides by 5.

x = 17

Number of pounds that Sofia recycled = x - 3 = 17 - 3 = 14.

Hence, Sofia recycled 14 pounds.