document.write( "Question 490747: I am having trouble with word problems: The question I have is: Divide 72 into three parts so that the first part is 3 less than the second part and the third part is 1/2 of the second part. I have no idea how to set up the formula and solve it.
\n" ); document.write( "Thank you,
\n" ); document.write( "Cindy \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #334276 by josmiceli(19441) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The simple, direct way is to call the 3 parts
\n" ); document.write( " $\"a\"$ , $\"b\"$ , and $\"c\"$
\n" ); document.write( "given:
\n" ); document.write( "(1) $\"+a+%2B+b+%2B+c+=+72+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+a+=+b+-+3+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(3) $\"+c+=+b%2F2+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "-------------
\n" ); document.write( "Now substitute (2) and (3) into (1)
\n" ); document.write( "(1) $\"+b+-+3+%2B+b+%2B+b%2F2+=+72+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Multiply both sides by $\"2\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(1) $\"+2b+-+6+%2B+2b+%2B+b+=+144+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(1) $\"+5b+=+150+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(1) $\"+b+=+30+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "and, since
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+a+=+b+-+3+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+a+=+30+-+3+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+a+=+27+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "and
\n" ); document.write( "(3) $\"+c+=+b%2F2+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(3) $\"+c+=+15+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "The parts are 27, 30 and 15 \n" ); document.write( "

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