Comparing sales

Elaine sold three times as many magazines as Ron. Ron sold 16 less magazines than elaine. How many magazines did they both sell?

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x = Ron's sales
3x = Elaine's sales   {Elaine sold three times as many as Ron} 

x = 3x - 16   {Ron sold 16 less than Elaine}
-2x = -16   {subtracted 3x from both sides}
x = 8   {divided both sides by -2}
3x = 24   {substituted 8, in for x, into 3x} 

Ron sold 8 and Elaine sold 24

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