Thread: Algebra Word Problem - Can I get help solving this one?

I'm going in circles trying to solve this problem....can anyone please help with details on how to solve it? Thank you much.

John did three repair jobs last month. The second job paid $10 more than three times the first. The third job paid half as much as the second job. Altogether, he earned $675. How much was John paid for the second job?

Let the first job be 'x', the second 'y' and the third 'z'.

Then:

3x+10 = y

0.5y=z

x+y+z=675

Three equations, three unknowns.

Do you follow so far? If so, then just solve for x, y and z using either substitution or elimination.

I would call the first job x.

Then you have x + (3x+10) + ((3x+10)/2) = 675 solve for x.