Question

Algebra 2 Word Problem: Set up using 3 variables & 3 equations:
"A friend e-mails you the results of a recent high school swim meet. The e-mail states that 24 individuals placed, earning a combined total of 53 points. First place earned 3 points, second place earned 2 points, and third place earned 1 point. There were as many first-place finishers as second and third-place finishers combined."
A: Write a system of THREE equations that represents how many people finished in each place.
B: How many swimmers finished in first place, second and third?

Answer 1

Let the number of swimmers who finished first be x, number of swimmers who finished second be y and number of swimmers who finished third be z.
Then
x+y+z=24
3x+2y+z=53.
Getting this @rosimary?

Answer 2

Ok Yes - I got that last night while I was working it however I could not figure out equation three at all.

Answer 3

There were as many first-place finishers as second & third-place finishers combined."
hav u typed the above sentence correctly?

Answer 4

no I did not hold on let me look at paper

Answer 5

There were as many first-place finishers as second and third-place finishers combined."

Answer 6

What is meant by that sentence is
Number of swimmers who finished first=Number of swimmers who finished second+Number of swimmers who finished third
x=y+z

Answer 7

Nw u hav ur third eqn. Can u solve them to find x, y and z @rosimary?

Answer 8

give me a moment

Answer 9

ha k:)

Answer 10

I GOT IT!!! x = 12, y = 5 and z = 7

Answer 11

yup perfect:)

Answer 12

Thank you so much. I will try to figure out the rest of my word problems if I get stuck I will open another question. Thanks again.

Answer 13

welcome:) and really very good work:)