Question

Jada, Lin, and Elena are saving money for a trip. Together they saved $120. Jada saved $20 less than Lin. Lin saved 3 times as much money as Elena. How much money did each of them save?

Answer 1

Explanation:

This is a word problem that we must translate to mathematical expression before we can solve.

let the individual saving be the first letters of the names

Jada= J

Lin= L

Elena= E

1. Jada saved $20 less than Lin

J=L-20

2. Lin saved 3 times as much money as Elena

L= 3E

3. Hence Elena saved

E

Together they saved $120.

hence

(L-20)+3E+E= 120

L-20+3E+E= 120

collecting like terms we hav

L+4E=120+20

L+4E= 140

but we know that L= 3E

3E+4E= 140

7E= 140

divide both sides by 7 we have

E= 140/7

E= $20

This means Elena saves $70

also L= 3E

L= 3*20

L= $60

this means that Lean saved $60

also J=L-20

J= 60-20

J= $40

This means that Jada saved $40