<PRE><B>Question 698336</B>
&lt;br&gt;&lt;font face=&quot;Tahoma&quot;&gt;This is a system of two equations.&lt;br&gt;

Let M be the number of Mary&#39;s cds.&lt;br&gt;

Let J be the number of Jamil&#39;s cds.&lt;br&gt;

Then we have:&lt;br&gt;

{{{M=2+J}}} given&lt;br&gt;

{{{M+J=30}}} given&lt;br&gt;

Let&#39;s just substitute the value of M in the first equation into the second equation:&lt;br&gt;

{{{(2+J)+J=30}}}&lt;br&gt;

{{{2+2J=30}}}&lt;br&gt;

{{{2J=28}}}&lt;br&gt;

{{{J=14}}}&lt;br&gt;

Jamil has 14 cds.  It is then easy to see that Mary has 16 cds.&lt;br&gt;

Check it, it works!&lt;br&gt;

I hope this helps!  Keep practicing!  :)&lt;br&gt;

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