SOLUTION: If Sarah had 3 more apples,then she would have three-quarters of the number of apples that Matthew has. If Sarah gave away 3 apples, then she would have half the number of apples t

Question 1033108: If Sarah had 3 more apples,then she would have three-quarters of the number of apples that Matthew has. If Sarah gave away 3 apples, then she would have half the number of apples that Matthew has. How many apples does Sarah have?
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
let s = Sarah's apples
let m = Mathew's apples
:
Write an equation for each statement
:
If Sarah had 3 more apples, then she would have three-quarters of the number of apples that Matthew has.
s + 3 = m
multiply both sides by 4
4(s+3) = 3m
4s + 12 = 3m
:
If Sarah gave away 3 apples, then she would have half the number of apples that Matthew has.
s - 3 = m
2(s-3) = m
2s - 6 = m
:
In the first equation replace m with (2s-6)
4s + 12 = 3(2s - 6)
4s + 12 = 6s - 18
12 + 18 = 6s - 4s
30 = 2s
s = 30/2
s = 15 apples for Sarah

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