Question

The Brady family received 35 pieces of mail on October 24. The mail consisted of bills, magazines, letters, and ads. How many bills did they receive if they receivedthree more magazines than letters, the same number of bills as letters, and five more ads than magazines?

Answer 1

`\begin{gathered} b=\text{Number of bills} \\ m=\text{Number of magazines} \\ l=\text{Number of letters} \\ a=\text{Number of ads} \\ b+m+l+a=35 \\ m=3l,\text{ thre}e\text{ more magazines than letters} \\ b=l,\text{ same number of bills as letters} \\ a=5m,\text{ five more ads than magazines} \\ \text{Now} \\ l+3l+l+5m=35 \\ l+3l+l+5(3l)=35 \\ l+3l+l+15l=35 \\ 20l=35 \\ l=(35)/(20) \\ l=1.75\approx2 \\ The\text{ Brady family received 2 bills} \end{gathered}`