document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1125180>Question 1125180</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Nicole, Ali, and Ryan sent a total of 68 text messages over their cell phones during the weekend. Ryan sent 3<BR>\n" );
document.write( " times as many messages as Ali. Ali sent 7 more messages than Nicole. 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 #741542 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=PRMath><B>PRMath(133)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-09.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=PRMath><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/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=741542\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Nicole, Andy and Ryan sent 68 messages, so this means all of their messages added together equals 68.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Nicole + Andy + Ryan = 68 messages.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "SO let's make variables for each name.  I suggest:  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "N for Nicole<BR>\n" );
document.write( "A for Andy<BR>\n" );
document.write( "R for Ryan\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now lets break down what they tell us about each person:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Nicole:  They give us no info so she made N calls\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Ali:  Sent 7 more messages than Nicole which is:  A = N + 7\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Ryan:  Sent three times as many messages as Ali which:  3A\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "BUT...  Ali is REALLY:  A  = N  + 7<BR>\n" );
document.write( "We can substitute A in for Ryan's calls which will give us:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3A<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3(N + 7)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "See how all the variables are \"N\" now?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "SO we can say this:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "N + N + 7 + 3(N + 7) = 68  Now we solve by distributing the 3...<BR>\n" );
document.write( "N + N + 7 +  3N + 21   = 68  Now we add like terms<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5N + 28 = 68  Now let's subtract 28 from both sides<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5N = 40   Now let's divide both sides by 5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "N = 8\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "SO!  Nicole made 8 texts:  N = 8\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Ali is N + 7 which is:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "8 + 7 = 15  (Ali made 15 texts)   A = 15\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Ryan has tree times as many texts as Ali, which is:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3(A) =<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3(15) = 45\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "All together we have:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Nicole:  8 texts<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Ali:    15 texts<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Ryan:   45 texts\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "TOTAL:  68 texts\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Does this make sense? I  hope so.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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