Question

In a basketball game Maria scored 3 times as many points as Holly. In the next game, Maria scored 7 fewer points than she did in the first game, while Holly scored 9 more points than she did in the first game. If they scored the same number of points in the second game, how many points did each score in the first.

Answer 1

m1 = 3h1
m2 = m1-7
h2 = h1+9
m2 = h2
now make some substitutions looking for m1 and h1

m1 = 3(h2-9) = 3(m2-9) = 3(m1-7-9)
m1 = 3m1 - 48
2m1 = 48
m1 = 24
so, h1 = 8

check: m2 = 24-7 = 17 = 8+9 = h2