document.write( "Question 1205102: Eli Al’s has a collection of marbles. If he gives away 3/5 of his marbles to his friend and then buys 20 more marbles, he will have 100 marbles in total. How many marbles did Eli Al have originally? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #841737 by math_tutor2020(3817)    ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! \n" ); document.write( "x = number of marbles he started with \n" ); document.write( "(3/5)x = number of marbles given away \n" ); document.write( "(2/5)x = number of marbles he keeps \n" ); document.write( "(2/5)x+20 = amount after buying 20 more marbles\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(2/5)x+20 = 100 \n" ); document.write( "(2/5)x = 100-20 \n" ); document.write( "(2/5)x = 80 \n" ); document.write( "x = 80*(5/2) \n" ); document.write( "x = 200\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Another way to solve \n" ); document.write( "(2/5)x+20 = 100 \n" ); document.write( "5*( (2/5)x+20 ) = 5*100 \n" ); document.write( "5*(2/5)x + 5*20 = 500 \n" ); document.write( "2x + 100 = 500 \n" ); document.write( "2x = 500 - 100 \n" ); document.write( "2x = 400 \n" ); document.write( "x = 400/2 \n" ); document.write( "x = 200\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Check: \n" ); document.write( "He started with 200 marbles. \n" ); document.write( "3/5 of which is (3/5)*200 = 0.6*200 = 120 \n" ); document.write( "He gives away 120 marbles and keeps 200-120 = 80. Note how (2/5)*200 = 0.4*200 = 80. \n" ); document.write( "Then he buys 20 marbles to get 80+20 = 100 total at the end. We have confirmed the answer.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Another way to check: \n" ); document.write( "(2/5)x+20 = 100 \n" ); document.write( "(2/5)*200+20 = 100 \n" ); document.write( "0.4*200+20 = 100 \n" ); document.write( "80+20 = 100 \n" ); document.write( "100 = 100 \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "  |