Question 649263: Mary and Joe are siblings. They inherit paintings. Joe takes three paintings to keep. Mary took one-fourth the remaining paintings. There are six paintings now left. How many paintings did they inherit in total.
I know how to work backwards where the 6 + 2 + 3 = 11
6 is the remainder, 2 is a quarter of the remainder which was 8 and 3 is what Joe took.
I need assistance with creating a formula for this word problem. Thank you!
Answer by MathTherapy(10557)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Mary and Joe are siblings. They inherit paintings. Joe takes three paintings to keep. Mary took one-fourth the remaining paintings. There are six paintings now left. How many paintings did they inherit in total.
I know how to work backwards where the 6 + 2 + 3 = 11
6 is the remainder, 2 is a quarter of the remainder which was 8 and 3 is what Joe took.
I need assistance with creating a formula for this word problem. Thank you!
Let the amount of paintings they inherited be P
After Joe took 3, P - 3 remained
Mary then took  of remainder, or 
Therefore, remainder after Joe took his, minus of remainder after Joe took his, equals the final remainder, OR
 ------ Multiplying by LCD, 4
4P - 12 - P + 3 = 24
3P - 9 = 24
3P = 33
P, or amount of paintings they inherited =  , or 
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