Question

Dean has 3 times as many quarters as Cross. If Dean gives 9 quarters to Cross, the two guys will have exactly the same amount. How many quarters do they have altogether?

Answer 1

Cross' number of quarters --- x
Dean's number of quarters --- 3x
after exchange:
Cross has x+9
Dean has 3x-9

" the two guys will have exactly the same amount"

1. If you mean, same amount of quarters ...
3x - 9 = x + 9
2x=18
x = 9
Cross had 9 , Dean had 27, so combined number is 36

2. If you mean , the have the same amount of money:
25(3x-9) = 25(x+9)
divide by 25 and you get the same equation as above,

so together they had 36 quarters,

(exchanges quarters between them does not change their numbers)