This morning James had half as much money as his sister and 27 dollars less than his brother. Then his sister paid James and his brother each 12 dollars not to tell their parents what happened out in the garden last Wednesday. After the payoff, James's brother has twice as much money as James's sister. How much money does James have now?
For a question like this, it is essential that you explain carefully to your reader what any variable that you introduce represents. Begin your solution by introducing some variable or variables and tell the reader exactly what they represent.
Let x be the amount James had this morning
Then his sister had 2x and his brother had x + 27
After his sister pays James and his brother 12 dollars each, she has 2x - 24 dollars and his brother has x + 27 + 12 dollars......and his brother has twice as much as his sister....so we have.....
2(2x - 24) = x + 27 + 12 simplify
4x - 48 = x + 39 simplify
3x = 87 divide both sides by 3
x = 29 this is what James had before his sister pays him $12.....so he has $[29 + 12] = $41, now
Check :
James' sister starts with $2(29) = $58
And his brother starts with $[ 29 + 27 ]= $56
After the sister pays both brothers $12......
She has $[58 - 24 ] = $ 34 and James's brother has $[56 + 12 ] = $68 ...... and his brother has twice as much as his sister......!!!
Let x be the amount James had this morning
Then his sister had 2x and his brother had x + 27
After his sister pays James and his brother 12 dollars each, she has 2x - 24 dollars and his brother has x + 27 + 12 dollars......and his brother has twice as much as his sister....so we have.....
2(2x - 24) = x + 27 + 12 simplify
4x - 48 = x + 39 simplify
3x = 87 divide both sides by 3
x = 29 this is what James had before his sister pays him $12.....so he has $[29 + 12] = $41, now
Check :
James' sister starts with $2(29) = $58
And his brother starts with $[ 29 + 27 ]= $56
After the sister pays both brothers $12......
She has $[58 - 24 ] = $ 34 and James's brother has $[56 + 12 ] = $68 ...... and his brother has twice as much as his sister......!!!