A $975,240 estate is to be divided among 5 friends, 4 charities and 
a university. Each friend should receive 3 times as much as all the 
charities combined, and that each charity should receive twice as 
much as the university. How much did each receive?

Let $x = the amount the university will receive.

>>...each charity should receive twice as much as the university...<<

So each charity  receives $2x

>>...4 charities...<<

So all charities combined receive 4($2x) = $8x

>>...Each friend should receive 3 times as much as all the charities
combined...<<

Each friend should receive 3($8x) = $24x

>>...5 friends...<<

So all friends combined receive 5($24x) = $120x

Equation comes from:

Amt. university receives + Amt. all charitied combined receivd +
    Amt. all friends combined receive = Amt. of entire estate

x + 8x + 120x = 975240

Solve that and get x = $7560

So the university gets                     $7560
Each charity gets twice that or $15120
So four charities get 4×$15120 or         $60480
Each friend gets three times that or
$181440, so all five friends get
5×$181440 or                             $907200
                                      ----------
                  TOTAL                  $975240

Edwin