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Question

 Peter has three piles of pickled peppers. He has a total of 52 pickled peppers. His second pile has seven more peppers then the first pile. His third Pile has three fewer then the first pile. write and solve an Equation  to find out how many pickled peppers are in each pile. Show your work .

Answer 1

let x=pile one      y = pile two      z = pile 3

 

He has a total of 52 pickled peppers.

x + y + z = 52

 

His second pile has seven more peppers then the first pile.

y = x + 7

 

His third Pile has three fewer then the first pile.

z = x - 3

 

Substitute for y and z

x +        y +       z    = 52

x + (x + 7) + (x - 3) = 52

3x + 4 = 52

       -4   -4

3x   = 48

divide both sides by 3

x = 16

 

go back to y = x + 7 and substitute 16 for x

y = 16 + 7 = 23

 

go back to z = x - 3 and substitute 16 for x

z = 16 - 3 = 13

 

first pile: 16

second pile: 23

third pile: 13