Question 941369
 Timmie owns 40 percent of the stock in Millennium Traders,Inc.
 Josef owns 15,000 shares.
 Bernice owns all the shares not owned by Timmie nor Josef.
:
Let x = the total number of shares
then
.4x = Tim's share
and
let b = no. of shares owned by Bernice
:
x = .4x + 15000 + b
"How many shares does Timmie own if Bernice has 25percent more shares than Timmie?
b = 1.25(.4x)
b = .5x is Bernice's share
:
Replace b with .5x  in the first equation
x = .4x + 15000 + .5x
x = .9x + 15000
x - .9x = 15000
.1x = 15000
x = 150,000 total shares
.4(150000) = 60,000 shares owned by Tim 
:
;
See if that checks out
Tim: 60000
Joe: 15000
Ber: 75000 (1.25*60000)
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total: 150,000