Algebra word problem

Question

A minor league baseball team plays 127127 games in a season. If the team won 1515 more than three timesthree times as many games as they? lost, how many wins and losses did the team? have?

Answer 1

We need to find "how many wins and losses," so we assign:

   W = number of wins

    L = number of losses

 

The total number of games played is 127 = W + L

 

Also (translating),

  "the team won 15 more than three times as many games as they lost"   means

                W =  15      +            3      *                             L

 

O.K., write the equations (slightly rearranged):

   W + L = 127

   W = 3L + 15

 

Substitute the value of W from the second equation into the first equation:

   (3L + 15) + L = 127

      4L + 15 = 127             (collect terms)

          4L = 112               (subtract 15 from both sides)

            L = 28            (divide both sides by 4)

 

Now, to find W, put the value of L into either equation (which one is easier??):

      W + 28 = 127

        W = 99             (subtract 28 from both sides)

 

Checking (very important):

  Is    99 = 15 + 3(28)    ?

         99 =  15 +  84     ?

         99 = 99    ?  yes