# Math Help - Worded problem - getting an equation and solving it.

1. ## Worded problem - getting an equation and solving it.

3 boys have 656 marbles.
Ali has 3 times more marbles than Bala.
Calvin has 34 few than Bala.
How many marbles does Bala have?

2. Introduce useful notation
Name stuff.

A = # of marbles for Ali
B = # of marbles for Bala
C = # of marbles for Calvin

Now, start translating those sentences.

Let's see what you get.

3. Originally Posted by TKHunny
Introduce useful notation
Name stuff.

A = # of marbles for Ali
B = # of marbles for Bala
C = # of marbles for Calvin

Now, start translating those sentences.

Let's see what you get.
Ali = x
Bala = x/3
Calvin = x/3 -34?

4. Correct. x + x/3 + (x/3 - 34) = 656, hence x = 414, therefore Bala has 138 marbles.

5. Originally Posted by johnny
138
can provide the formula? Thanks

6. Solution is provided.

7. thanks very much.

8. Originally Posted by johnny
Correct. x + x/3 + (x/3 - 34) = 656, hence x = 414, therefore Bala has 138 marbles.
apologies for being naive.

i cannot get the answer from the above formula.

9. x + x/3 + (x/3 - 34) = 3x/3 + x/3 + (x/3 - 34) = 4x/3 + (x/3 - 34) = 5x/3 - 34 = 656
5x/3 - 34 + 34 = 656 + 34
5x/3 = 690
(5x/3)(3/5) = 690(3/5) = 414
∴ x = 414
Divide x by 3 to determine correctly that Bala has 138 marbles.

10. oh. i calculated wrongly. no wonder i could not find the exact answer with my formula. Thanks ALOT!!!!