Kim, Beth, and Jenny gave money to buy their mother a birthday gift.

The gift cost $40.
Kim gave 35% of the money for the gift.
Beth gave 3/8 of the money for the gift.
How much money did Jenny give to buy the gift?

1 answer

If Jenny gave x dollars, then we have

.35*40 + (3/8)*40 + x = 40
14 + 15 + x = 40
x = 11

With word problems, just start writing the facts in symbols. You will end up with equation(s) to solve.