Question

Joe, Bill and Larry collect stamps. The three of them have 159 stamps. Joe has 5 less than 3 times as many stamps as Bill. Bill has 4 less stamps than Larry. How many stamps does Joe have?

Answer 1

Joe has 91 stamps. This is determined by setting up equations based on the information given and solving for the number of stamps each person has, with the total being 159 stamps.

Step-by-step explanation:

The subject of this question is mathematics, specifically involving algebra and word problems. We can solve the problem by setting up equations based on the information provided:

1. Let B represent the number of stamps Bill has.
2. Larry has 4 more stamps than Bill, so Larry has B + 4 stamps.
3. Joe has 5 less than 3 times the number of stamps Bill has, so Joe has 3B - 5 stamps.
4. The total number of stamps they have together is 159. Therefore, the equation is: B + (B + 4) + (3B - 5) = 159.

Now, we simplify and solve for B:
B + B + 4 + 3B - 5 = 159
5B - 1 = 159
5B = 160
B = 32
Now that we have Bill's stamp count, we can find Joe's:
Joe has 3B - 5 = 3(32) - 5 = 96 - 5 = 91 stamps.

Therefore, Joe has 91 stamps.