Jess had $17 more than Vincent at first. Vincent spent $9 less than Jessie at a sale. Vincent then had 7/11 as much money as Jess. How much did both of them have altogether in the end?

Question

fractions give me a headache.

Answer 1

jesse had 22 at the end, Vincent had 14, together at the end they had 36

in the beginning Jesse had 17 more than Vincent

j= 17 + v

Vincent spends 9 less than Jesse and then has 7/11 as much as Jesse

v -x= (7/11)(j-9-x)

multiply by 11

11v -11x= 7j -63-7x

11v = 7(17+v)-63+4x

11v = 119 +7v -63+4x

4v = 56+4x

v = 56/4 +x= 14+x originally= 23 for Vincent

J = 14+x+17=31+x originally =40 for Jesse

then Vincent spends 9 less than Jesse

j=31-x, v=14+9-x=23-x

23-x=(7/11)(31-x)

253-11x= 217-7x

4x= 36

x=9

31-9 = 22 for Jesse at the end, as Jesse had 40 and spent 18

23-9 = 14 for Vincent at the end, as Vincent had 23 and spent 9, 9 less than Jesse spent