document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1143846>Question 1143846</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> At first, Josh and May had some marbles each. After Josh gave 1/4 of his marbles to May. May had 3 times as many marbles as him. May then gave Josh 12 marbles. In the end, each of them had an equal number of marbles. How many marbles did May have at first? Please help </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #764767 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><B>greenestamps(13198)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><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=greenestamps><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=764767\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "I'll help you get started; you should have the experience of doing the work to get the answer yourself.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "In the beginning, Josh has j marbles and May has m marbles:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Josh = j;<BR>\n" );
document.write( "May = m<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Then Josh gives 1/4 of his marbles to May:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Josh = j-(1/4)j = (3/4)j;<BR>\n" );
document.write( "May = m+(1/4)j<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "At this point, May has 3 times as many marbles as Josh:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(1) <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=m%2B%281%2F4%29j+=+3%28%283%2F4%29j%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"m%2B%281%2F4%29j+=+3%28%283%2F4%29j%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Next May gives 12 marbles to Josh:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Josh = (3/4)j+12;<BR>\n" );
document.write( "May = m+(1/4)j-12<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Now the two have the same number of marbles:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2) <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%283%2F4%29j%2B12+=+m%2B%281%2F4%29j-12 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%283%2F4%29j%2B12+=+m%2B%281%2F4%29j-12\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "There you have 2 equations in j and m; use whatever method you like for solving pairs of equations to solve the problem.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "While there are many ways to do that, the path I followed was to solve equation (1) for m and substitute that value in (2). </SPAN>\n" );
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