document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=474817>Question 474817</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> If a + b = 3, b + c = 5, and a + c = 8, what is the average (arithmetic mean) of a, b, and c?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Please explain how to approach and solve this problem. Thanks! </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #325636 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=richard1234><B>richard1234(7193)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=richard1234><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=richard1234><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=325636\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Add all three equations to get\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "2a + 2b + 2c = 3 + 5 + 8 = 16\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The average of a,b,c is (a+b+c)/3, so if we divide both sides of the equation by 6 we obtain our desired result\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(2a + 2b + 2c)/6 = 16/6\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(a + b + c)/3 = 8/3 </SPAN>\n" );
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