Answer
Find out the how many pounds did sofia recycle .
To prove
Let us assume that the james recycled be = x
As given
sofia recycled 3 pounds less than the amount james recycled.
hannah recycled 3 times the amount sofia recycled.
Sofia recycled be = x - 3
hannah recycled be = 3 × (x - 3)
As given
the three recycled a total of 73 pounds .
Than the equation becomes
x + x - 3 + 3 × (x - 3) = 73
x + x - 3 + 3x - 9 = 73
5x - 12 = 73
5x = 73 + 12
5x = 85

x = 17
Sofia recycled be = x - 3
= 17 - 3
= 14 pounds
Therefore 14 pounds sofia recycled .