Question

Josh and Ethan have a total of 70 baseball cards between the two of them. Josh has sixteen more than twice the number of cards Ethan has. Write and solve an equation to find the number of baseball cards each has.

Answer 1

j + e = 70

j = 2e + 16

e = 18

j = 52

Explanation:

two equations can be derived from the question

j + e = 70 eqn 1

j = 2e + 16 eqn 2

j = josh card

e = ethan's card

rewrite equation 2

j -2e = 16 eqn 3

subtract equation 3 from 1

3e = 54

e = 18

substitute for e in equation 1

j = 70 - 18 = 52