SOLUTION: John and Harvey sold widgets, Harvey sold 2½ times as many widgets as John. If the difference in their sales was 87 units. How many widgets did each of them sell?

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Question 4784: John and Harvey sold widgets, Harvey sold 2½ times as many widgets as John. If the difference in their sales was 87 units. How many widgets did each of them sell?
Answer by Abbey(339) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let the number of units John sold = x
so, Harvey sold 2.5x
The difference is Harvey - John
2.5x - x = 87
1.5x = 87
divide both sides by 1.5
x = 58
John sold 58 units and Harvey sold 145 units
this makes sense because 145 is 87 units greater than 58 and also 2.5 times 58.