Question

Eric, Sheena, and Yael are playing a game. Eric has half as many points as Sheena. Sheena has three fewer points than Yael. Together, the three players have 68 points. How many points does Yael have?

Answer 1

There are 68 total points.
Let the points held by the contestants be
x for Eric,
y for Sheena,
z for Yael.

Therefore
x + y + z = 68              (1)

Sheena has three fewer points than Yael, Therefore
y = z - 3  or
 y - z = -3                    (2)

Eric has half as many points as Sheena. Therefore
x = (1/2)y, or
2x = y                      (3)

Add (1) and (2).
x + 2y = 65               (4)

Substitute (3) nto (4).
x + 2(2x) = 65
5x = 65
x = 13
y = 2x = 26

From (2),
26 - z = -3
z = 29

Answer: Yael has 29 points