document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=131759>Question 131759</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Together Billy and Joey have 17 peppermints.  Billy has 5 more pepperments than Joey.  How many peppermints does each boy have?  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "a. Billy 5, Joey 17<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b. Billy 5, Joey 12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "c. Billy 12, Joey 5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "d. Billy 4, Joey 13\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I tried to help my son with this simple question, however, my answer Billy 11, Joey 6, is not an option.  Can someone 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 #96185 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=rapaljer><B>rapaljer(4671)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=rapaljer><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=rapaljer><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=96185\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The first step in a word problem is to identify the variables with a letter like x.  I recommend that you choose the word at the end of the sentence or phrase, and let x equal that.  In this case, \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "let x = number of peppermints of Joey (end of sentence).<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x+5 = Billy\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Write the equation:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Total number of peppermints\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Joey + Billy = 17<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x + x+5=17<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2x+5=17<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2x=12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=6 Joey<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x+5= 11 Billy\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I quite agree with you on this one!  The answer that is given is WRONG!\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "R^2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "P.S.  Please see my website for extra explanation, examples, exercises, and answers.  Click on my tutor name \"rapaljer\" anywhere in algebra.com.  Click on the first link on my website called \"Basic or Intermediate Algebra: One Step at a Time\", then go to Chapter 1 in Basic Algebra.  See Sections 1.09 and 1.10 on word problems.  See also my pages MATH IN LIVING COLOR. </SPAN>\n" );
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