Final answer:
By setting up equations and solving them, we found out that Send Quick Package Service delivered 2 packages, Ralph's Express delivered 4 packages, and Speedy Delivery delivered 12 packages to Erica.
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve the problem of how many packages each delivery service delivered to Erica, we can set up some equations based on the given information:
- Speedy Delivery delivered three times as many packages as Ralph's Express.
- Ralph's Express delivered two more packages than Send Quick Package Service.
- The total number of packages delivered by all three services is 18.
Let's define some variables:
- Let x represent the number of packages Send Quick Package Service delivered.
- Therefore, Ralph's Express delivered x + 2 packages.
- And Speedy Delivery delivered 3(x + 2) packages.
The equation representing the total number of packages is:
x + (x + 2) + 3(x + 2) = 18
Solving this equation, we combine like terms:
x + x + 2 + 3x + 6 = 18
Which simplifies to:
5x + 8 = 18
Subtracting 8 from both sides gives:
5x = 10
Dividing by 5,
x = 2
Thus, Send Quick Package Service delivered 2 packages, Ralph's Express delivered 4 packages (2 + 2), and Speedy Delivery delivered 12 packages (3(2 + 2)).