SOLUTION: I am stuggling with how to set this problem up in an equation to solve it. Together, a baseball and a football weigh 1.25 pounds, the baseball and a soccer ball weigh 1.35 pound

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Question 209996: I am stuggling with how to set this problem up in an equation to solve it.
Together, a baseball and a football weigh 1.25 pounds, the baseball and a soccer ball weigh 1.35 pounds, and the football and the soccer ball weigh 1.9 pounds. How much does each of the balls weigh?
Found 2 solutions by checkley77, rapaljer:
Answer by checkley77(12844) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
B+F=1.25
B+S=1.35 SUBTRACT THESE EQUATION
------------------
F-S=.10
F+S=1.9 ADD THESE EQUATIONS
--------------------------
2F=2
F=2/2
F=1 POUND FOR THE FOOTBALL.
1+S=1.9
S=1.9-1
S=.9 POUNDS FOR THE SOCCER BALL.
B+1=1.35
B=1.35-1
B=.35 POUNDS FOR THE BASEBALL.

Answer by rapaljer(4671) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You will have to write three equations with three unknowns.

Let b = weight of baseball
f = weight of football
s = weight of soccer ball

b+f=1.25
b+s=1.35
f+s=1.9

Start by subtracting the first equation minus the second equation.
b+f=1.25
b+s=1.35

b-b+f -s = 1.25-1.35
f-s=-.1

Now take this equation and add it to the third equation:

f-s=-.1
f+s=1.9

2f=1.8
f=.9

Now go back to the first three equations:
b+f=1.25
b+s=1.35
f+s=1.9

In the first equation, substitute f =.9
b+f=1.25
b+.9=1.25
b=1.25-.9
b=.35

In the second equation, substitute b.35
b+s=1.35
.35+s=1.35
s=1

Check with the third equation
f+s=1.9
.9+1=1.9
It checks!!!

R^2

Dr. Robert J. Rapalje, Retired
Seminole Community College
Altamonte Springs Campus
Florida