document.write( "Question 60783: Please help. This is for G.E.D. Evaluative Test, Mathematics part 1. I am terrible with word problems.
\n" ); document.write( "Ben scored 7 more points than Jack in a basketball game. Paul scored 2 points less than Jack in the same game. If the three boys scored a total of 38 points, how many points did Jack score? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #41752 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Ben scored 7 more points than Jack in a basketball game. Paul scored 2 points less than Jack in the same game. If the three boys scored a total of 38 points, how many points did Jack score?
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "It's not that bad, write a simple equation for each statememt:
\n" ); document.write( "we agree that:
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( " B + P + J = 38
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "\"Ben scored 7 more points than Jack \"
\n" ); document.write( "B = J + 7
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "\"Paul scored 2 points less than Jack\"
\n" ); document.write( "P = J - 2
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "In the original equation B + P + J = 38, we can substitute (J+7) for B & (J-2) for P:
\n" ); document.write( "(J+7) + (J-2) + J = 38
\n" ); document.write( "J + 7 + J - 2 + J = 38
\n" ); document.write( "3J + 5 = 38
\n" ); document.write( "3J = 38 - 5
\n" ); document.write( "J = 33/3
\n" ); document.write( "J = 11 points which is what they asked for.
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "It's an easy matter to find the scores of the others and it's a good idea to do that to check the solution.
\n" ); document.write( "18 + 9 + 11 = 38 \n" ); document.write( "
\n" );