a volleyball team scored 17 points in its first game than in its third game . in the second game, the team scored 23 points. The total numbers of points scored was less than 60. What is the greatest number of points the team could have scored in its first game

Answer 1

If I am reading your question correctly... you forgot the "MORE THAN" in the third game.
So you have games ____ , ____ , _____ and three
the second game the team scored 23 points... _____, __23__, ___
The first game was 17 more than the third game (so the third game is x)
x+17 + 23 + x < 60
..... you should end up with x <10 so that means that in the first game they scored x + 17, and x must be less than 10. So the greatest number of points in game one would occur when x is the closest whole number to 10 (so when it is 9)
x + 17
9 + 17
= 26
So the most points that could have been scored in game 1 is 26 :)