math in Summer school need some guidance

[merman64]

Together Todd and Mary and Helen have $770. Todd has eight times as much as mary and helen has $50 more than three times as much as mary, how much does each have?

How do I solve this? I have not done algebra in over 30 years.....

 

[merman64]

OK I will attempt to do this....

3m + 50= H
T= 8m
T+M+H= $770

 

[merman64]

8M+4M+50=770
12M=770-50
12M=720

divide both sides by 12

M=60

got it ....thanks you are great....

 

[mmm4444bot]

3m + 50 = H

T = 8m

T + M + H = $770

Good job translating the given information into a system of three equations.

Here are some technical pointers, for your consideration:

1. It's good form to explicitly state all variable definitions (even when you think they're obvious)
2. It's bad form to alternate between upper- and lower-case letters (M is not the same number as m)
3. It's bad form to include dollar signs or other units of measurement in your equations
   Cheers :cool: