Question

Word problem.. i need help. Due at midnight

Answer 1

The Brady family received 1 letter on July 28.

Explanation:

Step 1:

Assume a = the number of letters, b = the number of bills, c = the number of ads, and d = the number of magazines.

From the question, they got 15 pieces of mail that day so
`a+b+c+d=15.`

They got 5 more magazines than bills so
`d = b + 5.`

The got the same number of letters as ads so
`a=c.`

They got 3 more bills than ads so
`b= c + 3.`

Step 2:

As we have only one equation to solve the values, we need to make every term in terms of a single term.

We make everything in terms of c.

So
`a=c, b = c+3, c=c, d = b+5 = (c+3)+5=c+8.`

Substituting all this in the equation, we get

`a + b+c+d =(c)+(c+3)+(c)+(c+8) = 15, 4c+11=15.`

`4c=4, c = 1.`

Step 3:

Substituting c = 1 in other terms, we get

`a=c=1,`

`b=c+3=1+3=4,`

`c=1,` and

`d = c+8 = 1+8=9.`

As a = 1, they received 1 letter that day.