Question

Mark and Don are planning to sell each of their marble collections at a garage sale. If Don has 5 more than 2 times the number of marbles Mark has, how many does each boy have to sell if the total number of marbles is 59?

Answer 1

Mark = x = 18 marbles

Don = y = 41 marbles

Explanation:

Let the number of marbles

Mark has = x

Don has = y

If Don has 5 more than 2 times the number of marbles Mark has

y = 5 + 2x

Total number of marbles is 59

x + y = 59...... Equation 1

Hence, we substitute 5 + 2x for y in Equation 1

x + 5 + 2x = 59

Collect like terms

3x = 59 - 5

3x = 54

x = 54/3

x = 18

Solving for y

y = 5 + 2x

y = 5 + 2(18)

y = 5 + 36

y = 41

Hence, the number of marbles each boy has to sell is :

Mark = x = 18 marbles

Don = y = 41 marbles