Question

Together Pam, Dan, and Sam have $31.00. How many dollars does Sam have if Dan has $3.00 less than Pam, and Sam has $1.00 more than Pam and Dan combined?

Answer 1

Let x be the amount Pam has, then Dan has x - $3.00 and Sam has x + x - $3.00 + $1.00 = 2x + $1.00

The total amount of money they have is x + x - $3.00 + 2x + $1.00 = 31.00

So, 4x + $1.00 = 31.00

Subtracting $1.00 from both sides gives 4x = 30.00

Finally, dividing both sides by 4 gives x = $7.50

So Pam has $7.50, Dan has $7.50 - $3.00 = $4.50, and Sam has $7.50 + $4.50 + $1.00 = $13.00.

Answer 2

Let's represent Pam's money as x dollars.

Dan has x - $3.00.

So Dan and Pam together have x + (x - $3.00) = $2x - $3.00 dollars.

Sam has $1.00 more than Dan and Pam combined, which is $2x - $2.00 dollars.

The total amount of money between Pam, Dan, and Sam is $2x + x + ($2x - $2.00) = $5x - $2.00 dollars.

We know the total is $31.00, so we can set up an equation to solve for x:

$5x - $2.00 = $31.00

Adding $2.00 to both sides:

$5x = $33.00

Dividing both sides by 5:

x = $6.60

So Pam has $6.60, Dan has $3.60, and Sam has $14.20