document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1203379>Question 1203379</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Hi<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Leo and issac had 95 balls together. Leo gave away 3 more than issac. Issac was left with 5 fewer than the balls he gave away. Leo had 2 more balls left than issac. How many did Leo give away.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #838890 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><B>greenestamps(13203)</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=838890\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "With a little bit of analysis, the problem can be solved using a single variable....<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Let x = number Isaac gave away  [the number the question asks for]<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Then x-5 = number Isaac had left [he was left with 5 fewer than he gave away]<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "And x+3 = number Leo gave away   [3 more than Isaac gave away]<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "And finally, 95-(x+(x-5)+(x+3)) = 97-3x = number Leo had left [the total number was 95]<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Leo had left 2 more than Isaac:<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=97-3x=%28x-5%29%2B2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"97-3x=%28x-5%29%2B2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=4x=100 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4x=100\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x=25 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x=25\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "ANSWER: Isaac gave away 25 balls<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Solving the problem using a system of 3 equations with 3 variables, as both of the other tutors did, is good algebra; however, the work required to actually solve the problem is very often much easier if you take some time to analyze the problem to find how to set it up using a single variable.<br><BR>\n" );
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