How do you do this word problem? This is a third grader (add, subtract, multiply or divide- that's all they know)

Question

Xavier has $12 less than Calvin. Amelia has $18 more than Xavier. They have a total of $102 altogether. How much money does Xavier have?

Answer 1

Let x = amount Xavier has

Calvin: x + $12

Amelia: x + $18

 

Total = Calvin + Amelia + Xavier

 

$102 = x + $12 + x + $18 + x

Combine like terms and simplify:

$102 = 3x + $30

Subtract $30 from both sides:

$72 = 3x

Swap and divide both sides by 3:

x = $24

Answer 2

Cal = Xav+12

Ame=Xav+18

Xav + Ame + Cal = 102

 

Xav + (Xav+18) + Cal = 102

 

Xav + Xav +18 + (Xav + 12) = 102

 

3Xav + 20 = 102  

 

3Xav = 102 -20

 

3Xav = 82

Xav = $27.33