Question

Can someone please help me on a brain teaser/algebra 1 problem? Will medal best helper!
It's supposed to be quite simple, but I kinda hit my head earlier so I'm kinda groggy XD
(Question will be pasted in next message.)

Answer 1

The problem is:
Three boys, Josh, Hans, and Simon, are sitting around on a farm with nothing to
do. They walk into the barn and notice a scale used to weigh cattle. They
decide to weigh themselves. Unfortunately, the scale begins at 100 kg. The
problem is that none of the boys weigh more than 100 kg. They decide to
weight themselves in pairs. Josh was sure that he weighed the most.
Hans and Simon together = 132 kg
Simon and Josh together = 151 kg
Josh and Hans together = 137 kg
What do they each weigh?

Answer 2

I know you have to make an algebraic equation, and combine like terms, but I don't know how to start.

Answer 3

H = Han's weight
S = Simon's weight
J = Josh's weight


`Hans and Simon together = 132 kg`
H+S = 132

`Simon and Josh together = 151 kg`
S+J = 151

`Josh and Hans together = 137 kg`
J + H = 137

Answer 4

So the three equations in this system are

H+S = 132
S+J = 151
J + H = 137

Answer 5

Ok.

Answer 6

Solve equation 1 for S to get

H+S = 132
H+S-H = 132-H
S = 132-H

Then plug this into equation 2

S+J = 151
(132-H)+J = 151
132-H+J = 151

Answer 7

So we now have

132-H+J = 151
J + H = 137

Answer 8

hopefully this is making sense?

Answer 9

It is. So basically you isolate each variable by replacing the other and solving for it?

Answer 10

yeah a bunch of substitutions really

Answer 11

Ok thank you.

Answer 12

no problem