help (Equations and Inequalities)

So to find how many apples each student picked, first, you have to solve for M (the variable I'm using to represent the # of apples Matteo picked). So you have to put this word problem into an equation. The problem gives you how many apples each kid picked. 

Addie (A) = 20 less than Matteo (M-20)

Khan (K) = 50 more than Matteo (M+50) 

Brooke (B) = Twice as many as Matteo (2M)

So now that we know how much each kid picked (variable form), you have to put it into the equation. We know that the total was 355 apples. So you know your sum is 355. To set up the equation, you put in the numbers and variables from above. 

[tex]355= (M+50) + 2(M) + (M-20)[/tex]

Just a reminder, 
[tex]K= (M+50) B= 2(M) and A= (M-20)[/tex]

Now, we first have to combine numbers and variables. 

So take away the parentheses. It should look like this: 
[tex]355= M+50+M+M+M-20[/tex]

Once they are all combined, it should look like this:
[tex]355= 4M +30[/tex]

To solve for 4M, subtract 30 from both sides.

You should get:
[tex]325=4M[/tex]

To get M, divide both sides by 4, you should get:
[tex]81.25=M[/tex]

To find what each student got, plug M in and solve.

Khan got 131.25 apples.

Addie got 61.25 apples.

and 

Brooke got 162.5 apples.




*Note, the numbers may sound weird, but they add up to 355.


Hope this helped!