Question 485137
Let d, a, t, b, represent the no. trees planted by ea man,
 write an equation for each statement
:
Dan, andy, Tim and Bret planted a total of 34 trees.
d + a + t + b = 34
:
Dan planted three times as many as Bret.
d = 3b
:
Tim planted as many as Dan and Bret combined.
t = d + b
replace d with 3b
t = 3b + b
t = 4b
:
Andy planted half as many as Bret.
a = {{{1/2}}}b
or
a = .5b


 How many trees did each plant? 
d + a + t + b = 34
replace: d with 3b, a with .5b , t with 4b
3b + .5b + 4b + b = 34
8.5b = 34
b = {{{34/8.5}}}
b =  4 trees by Brett
:
You should be able to find the no. of trees, the other 3 men planted
Check that your solutions add up to 34.