let the number of mags for Kevin, Lyn and Mandy be
k, l, and m respectively
k + l + m = 1440 **
after the great magazine exchange:
Kevin has (2/3)k + (2/5)l
l has 3/5 l
Mandy has m + 1/3 k
"Kevin had 334 magazines more than Lyn"
---> (2/3)k + (2/5)l - (3/5)l = 334
(2/3)k - (1/5)l = 334
times 15
10k - 3l = 5010 ***
"Lyn had 332 magazines less than Mandy"
m + (1/3)k - (3/5)l = 332
times 15
15m + 5k - 9l = 4980 ****
You now have 3 equations in 3 unknown.
I solved them and go 3 reasonable answers
I assume you know how to solve this system, let me know what you get
Kevin, Lyn and Mandy had a total of 1440 magazines. Kevin gave 1/3 of his magazines to Mandy. Lyn gave 2/5 of her magazines to Kevin. In the
end, Kevin had 334 magazines more than Lyn and Lyn had 332 magazines
less than Mandy. How many magazines did Mandy have at first?
1 answer