Tammy, Chang, and Deandre have a total of $123 in their wallets. Deandre has $9 more than Tammy. Chang has 4 times what Deandre has. How much do they have in their wallets?

Question

imstuck · Answer

you need to base all the amounts in their wallets on a single variable, so we will use x.  It appears to me that poor Tammy has the least amount in her wallet, because it tells me that Deandre has 9 more than Tammy, and Chang has even more than Deandre does.  So we will say that what Tammy has in her wallet is x.  Then Deandre has 9 more, so that's x + 9.  Chang has 4 times what Deandre has so that's 4(x + 9).  All the money collectively equals $123.  Here's the set up, then:

imstuck · Answer

T - x
D - x + 9
C - 4(x + 9)

x + (x + 9) + [4(x + 9)] =

imstuck · Answer

That simplifies to:
x + x + 9 + 4x + 36 = 123
6x + 45 = 123
6x = 78
x = 13
That means that Tammy has $13 in her wallet; Deandre has 13 + 9 = $22; Chang has 4(22) = $88.  Add them all together to make sure they equal $123:
13+ 22 + 88 = $123

anonymous · Answer

thank you for helping me understand

imstuck · Answer

Did you understand ok?  If you have questions on any of this, I will be happy to explain.

anonymous · Answer

Yes! And Okay