Word problems

Question

Last year,Jill sold 142 boxes of Girl Scout cookies.This is three less than five times the amount that Lisa sold.How many boxes of cookies did Lisa sell?

Answer 1

Okay. So Jill sold 142 boxes of Girl Scout cookies.

 

Let Jill be J and so

J = 142

 

Now it says that it is three less than five times the amount Lisa sold

 

Let Lisa be L and so

J = 5L - 3

 

142 = 5L - 3

145 = 5L

29 = L

 

Answer 2

Hi Sunil--

 

Lisa sold n boxes, so the 142 that Jill sold was 5n - 3.

 

5n - 3 = 142. Add 3 to both sides, so that

 

5n = 145. Divide both sides by 5:

 

n = 29 boxes for Lisa

 

check: 29 x 5 = 145. 145 - 3 = 142. Check!

 

Hope this helps.

 

Matt in New York