Answer: 16
Explanation:
Let the number of candy Ed took be denoted as "x"
Since Joe ate twice the amount of candy Ed ate, then the number of candies joe ate will be denoted as "2x"
Since all together they ate a total of 48 candies, then the sum of the candies eaten by Joe and Ed is what gives a total of 48
This means:
2x + x = 48
3x = 48
X = 16.
Since the "x" calculated for is what was used to denote the number of candies Ed ate, it means Ed ate 16 pieces of candy.