Algebra Word Problem

Question

Yolanda, Scott, and Hans have a total of $71 in their wallets. Hans has 3 times what Scott has. Scott has $9 more than Yolanda. How much do they have in their wallets?

Answer 1

Hi Sarah,

You asked:

"Yolanda, Scott, and Hans have a total of $71 in their wallets. Hans has 3 times what Scott has. Scott has $9 more than Yolanda. How much do they have in their wallets?"

We can break this down an start assigning variables to the problem.

Yolanda, Scott, and Hans have a total of $71 in their wallets

↓ ↓ ↓ ↓

Y + S + H = $71

Hans has 3 times what Scott has

↓ ↓ ↓ ↓

H = 3 × S

simplified, H = 3S

Scott has $9 more than Yolanda

↓ ↓ ↓ ↓

S = $9 + Y

S = 9 + Y

So now you have your original equation: Y + S + H = 71, and you have to find a way to solve it using substitution.

Because Hans has three times what Scott has, we can substitute 3S for H, which makes the equation:

Y + S + 3S = 71

Can you put all of the variables in terms of Y or in terms of S? Well, we know that S = 9+Y, so yes we can.

Y + (9+Y) + 3(9+Y) = 71

If you solve the above, you will find Y, which is the amount Yolanda has. Don't forget to complete the problem by also finding what Scott and Hans have.