Question

A student solved this problem by working backward. Jared has some flowers. He has 6 more red flowers than yellow flowers. He has twice as many orange flowers as red flowers. He has 4 yellow flowers. How many flowers does Jared have altogether? Student's solution: Jared has 4 yellow flowers. He has 6 more red than yellow flowers (4 + 6 = 10). He has twice as many orange flowers as red flowers (10 × 2 = 20). So Jared has 4 + 10 + 20 = 34 flowers. Use a similar strategy to solve this problem. Kathleen has some balloons. She has 7 more silver balloons than gold balloons. She has 3 times as many bronze balloons as silver balloons. She has 5 gold balloons. How many balloons does Kathleen have altogether?

Answer 1

53 because:
Gold=5 balloons
Silver=Gold+7. Gold+7=5+7=12
Bronze=Silver*3. Silver*3=12*3=36

G=5 balloons
+ S=12 balloons
+ B=36 balloons
______________
T (Total)=53 balloons