This morning James had half as much money as his brother and 27 dollars less than his sister. Then his brother paid James and his sister each 12 dollars not to tell their parents what happened out in the garden last Wednesday. After the payoff, James's sister has twice as much money as James's brother. How much money does James have now?
+23254 This morning:
James had x dollars
Brother had 2x dollars (so James had half as much as his brother)
Sister had x + 27 dollars (so James had 27 dollars less than his sister).
His brother paid 12 dollars to James; now James has x + 12 dollars.
His brother paid 12 dollars to his sister; now his sister has x + 27 + 12 = x + 39 dollars.
After paying 12 dollars to both James and his sister, his brother now has 2x - 12 - 12 = 2x - 24 dollars.
James sister now has twice as much money as his brother: sister = 2 x brother ---> x + 39 = 2(2x - 24)
---> x + 39 = 4x - 48
---> 39 + 48 = 4x - x
---> 87 = 3x
---> x = 29
James now has $29.00 + $12,00 = $41.00.
