Ann, Benjamin and Candy have 344 ice-cream sticks. Ann has 4 times as many ice-cream sticks as Benjamin. Candy has 182 ice-cream sticks more than Ann. How many ice-cream sticks does Ann have?
We have this system of equations :
A + B + C = 344 (1)
A /4 = B (2)
C = A + 182 (3)
Subbing (2) and (3) into (1), we have
A + A/4 + A + 182 = 344 subtract 182 fro each side and simplify the rest
(4/4) A + A /4 + (4/4) A = 162
(9/4)A = 162 multiply both sides by 4/9
A = 72