document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1026770>Question 1026770</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Maria, Joe and Lamar sent a total of 79 text messages over their cell phones during the weekend. Lamar sent 7 fewer messages than Maria. Joe sent 2 times as many messages as Lamar. How many messages did they each send? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #642066 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Cromlix><B>Cromlix(4381)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Cromlix><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=Cromlix><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=642066\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Hi there,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Make Maria's number of texts = x<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Lamar sent 7 fewer messages than Maria.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Lamar sent (x - 7) texts<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Joe sent 2 times as many messages as Lamar. <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Joe sent 2(x - 7) texts.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Add the texts up:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x + x - 7 + 2(x - 7)= 79<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x + x - 7 + 2x - 14 = 79<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Collect like terms:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x + x + 2x = 79 + 7 + 14<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4x = 100<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = 25<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Maria sent 25 texts<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Lamar sent 18 texts<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Joe sent 36 texts.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Hope this helps :-) </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );