Jim weighs 30 pounds less than Tom, and together they weigh 210 pounds. Let $n$ Tom's weight in pounds. What would be the equation that expresses the total of Jim's and Tom's weights?

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Answer 1 · 2018-03-29T23:37:11

Jim and Tom's total weight is expressed by

$n+(n-30)=210$

and solving this equation tells us that Tom weighs 120 pounds, and Jim weighs 90 pounds.

If $n$ is Tom's weight, then Jim's weight is

$n-30$

So an equation for their total weight would be

$n+(n-30)=210$

We could then continue to solve for $n$ to find Tom's weight

$rArr2n-30=210$

$rArr2n-cancel30$ $color(red)(+cancel30)=210$ $color(red)(+30)$

$rArr2n=240$

$rArr(cancel2n)/color(red)cancel2=240/color(red)2$

$rArrn=120$

Tom weighs 120 pounds.

Jim's weight is then

$n-30$

$rArrcolor(red)120-30$

$rArr90$

Jim weighs 90 pounds.

Jim weighs 30 pounds less than Tom, and together they weigh 210 pounds. Let nn Tom's weight in pounds. What would be the equation that expresses the total of Jim's and Tom's weights?