Final answer:
To find out how many marbles Tim has, the equation T + 2T + 15 = 63 is set up and solved, leading to the conclusion that Tim has 16 marbles.
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve this problem, we'll set up an equation based on the information given about Tim, Sue, and Jim's marbles. Let's denote the number of marbles Tim has as T. According to the problem, Sue has twice as many marbles as Tim, which can be expressed as 2T. Jim has 15 marbles, which is a fixed amount. The total number of marbles they have together is 63.
Accordingly, the equation representing the total number of marbles is:
T + 2T + 15 = 63
Combining like terms, we get:
3T + 15 = 63
To find T, we'll subtract 15 from both sides of the equation:
3T = 63 - 15
3T = 48
Finally, divide both sides of the equation by 3 to get the value of T:
T = 48 / 3
T = 16
Therefore, Tim has 16 marbles.