It seems like this problem has 2 unknowns and I don't know how to solve it.

Question

Leonard has 3 dollars less than 3/5 as much money saved up as his friend Marcus. If Leonard and Marcus have a total of $47.00, how much money does Marcus have?

Answer 1

Shannon,

 

If you're reading a word problem, see if one quantity refers to another..the one being referred to is "x", the other is in some kind of terms of x..

 

So, when "Leonard has 3 dollars less the 3/5 as much as Marcus", then Marcus is your "x"

 

Marcus=x

Leonard=(3/5)x-3

 

(Remember, when using phrase "3 dollars less", that goes after the variable)

 

So..since they said 'together', you add these quantites together, giving you 47..

 

x + (3/5)x -3 = 47     (I'd multiply everything by 5 here, get rid of the fractions)

 

5x + 3x -15 = 235

 

8x=250

 

x= 31.25  So, Marcus has 31.25..plug in 31.25 for x for Leonard..

 

(3/5)(31.25) - 3

 

18.73-3

 

15.75 Leonard

 

Check, add those together to get $47, and it does