Question 984749
Hi there,
John has x coins and Connie 
has 5 fewer coins than John
John has x coins
Connie has x - 5 coins
If they have 17 between them 
x + (x - 5) = 17
x + x - 5 = 17
Collect like terms
2x - 5 = 17
2x = 17 + 5
2x = 22
x = 11
John has 11 coins
Connie has 6 coins (11 - 5)
Hope this helps:-)