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?

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

© Algebra House