SOLUTION: There are three piles of lollies on the table. The first pile has three fewer lollies than the second pile. The third pile has 20 more than three times the second pile. There are 6

Question 311676: There are three piles of lollies on the table. The first pile has three fewer lollies than the second pile. The third pile has 20 more than three times the second pile. There are 65 lollies altogether. How many lollies are there in each pile?
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
There are three piles of lollies on the table.
The first pile has three fewer lollies than the second pile.
The third pile has 20 more than three times the second pile.
There are 65 lollies altogether.
How many lollies are there in each pile?
:
Let a = the no. in the 1st pile
Let b = the 2nd pile
Let c = the 3rd pile
:
Write an equation for each statement
:
"The first pile has three fewer lollies than the second pile."
a = b - 3
:
"The third pile has 20 more than three times the second pile."
c = 3b + 20
:
"There are 65 lollies altogether."
a + b + c = 65
Using the 1st two equations, replace a and c
(b-3) + b + (3b+20) = 65
:
5b + 17 = 65
:
5b = 65 - 17
:
5b = 48
b =
b = 9.6 pile two
which leads me to believe there is something wrong with this problem
I don't know what a lollie is, but assume the solution should to be an integer.
:
anyway, continuing
a = 9.6 - 3
a = 6.6, pile one
and
c = 3(9.6) + 20
c = 28.8 + 20
c = 48.8, pile 3
:
Check
6.6 + 9.6 + 48.8 = 65

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