Question

Solve the problem. During the 1998-1999 Junior Hockey League season, the Sharks played 54 games. Together, their wins and loses totaled 46. They tied 5 fewer games than they lost. How many games did they win that season?

A. 8 games
B. 33 games
C. 13 games
D. 29 games

Answer 1

Lets set up some variables
w +l = 46
t = l-5
w+l+t = 54

Answer 2

by interchanging the first equation into the last one - you should be able to determine value of T

Answer 3

from that - determine value of L with 2nd equation
and last, determine W value with 1st equation.

Please tell me what you got for T L and W

Answer 4

Say W is the number of wins, L is losses, and T are tie games.

You know that W + L + T = 54 from the first sentence
You know that W + L = 46 from the second sentence (meaning T = 8).
You know that T = L - 5 from the third sentence (so 8 = L - 5 --> L = 13)

Now that we have both T and L, you can easily find W from the above :)