document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=209996>Question 209996</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I am stuggling with how to set this problem up in an equation to solve it.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Together, a baseball and a football weigh 1.25 pounds, the baseball and a soccer ball weigh 1.35 pounds, and the football and the soccer ball weigh 1.9 pounds.  How much does each of the balls weigh? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #158699 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=rapaljer><B>rapaljer(4671)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=rapaljer><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=rapaljer><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=158699\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> You will have to write three equations with three unknowns.  \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Let b = weight of baseball<BR>\n" );
document.write( "    f = weight of football<BR>\n" );
document.write( "    s = weight of soccer ball\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "b+f=1.25<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b+s=1.35<BR>\n" );
document.write( "f+s=1.9\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Start by subtracting the first equation minus the second equation.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "b+f=1.25<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b+s=1.35\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "b-b+f -s = 1.25-1.35<BR>\n" );
document.write( "f-s=-.1\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now take this equation and add it to the third equation:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "f-s=-.1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "f+s=1.9\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "2f=1.8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "f=.9\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now go back to the first three equations:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "b+f=1.25<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b+s=1.35<BR>\n" );
document.write( "f+s=1.9\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "In the first equation, substitute f =.9<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b+f=1.25<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b+.9=1.25<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b=1.25-.9<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b=.35\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "In the second equation, substitute b.35<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b+s=1.35<BR>\n" );
document.write( ".35+s=1.35<BR>\n" );
document.write( "s=1\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Check with the third equation\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "f+s=1.9<BR>\n" );
document.write( ".9+1=1.9<BR>\n" );
document.write( "It checks!!!\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "R^2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Dr. Robert J. Rapalje, Retired<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Seminole Community College<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Altamonte Springs Campus<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Florida\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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