SOLUTION: Mark had 4 times as many sweets as John. When Mark gave John 15 sweets, both of them had the same number of sweets. How many sweets did they have altogether?

Algebra ->  Coordinate Systems and Linear Equations  -> Linear Equations and Systems Word Problems -> SOLUTION: Mark had 4 times as many sweets as John. When Mark gave John 15 sweets, both of them had the same number of sweets. How many sweets did they have altogether?      Log On


   

Question 1184424: Mark had 4 times as many sweets as John. When Mark gave John 15 sweets, both of them had the same number of sweets. How many sweets did they have altogether?
Answer by ikleyn(52847) About Me  (Show Source):
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John had x sweets;  Mark had 4x sweets.


After sharing sweets


    4x - 15 = x + 15.


Simplify and find x


    4x - x = 15 + 15

      3x   =   30

       x   =    30/3 = 10.


ANSWER.  Altogether, they have  x + 4x = 5x = 5*10 = 50 sweets.

Solved and explained.